Airy Nothing

by Clarissa Pattern

When you’ve always been told you’re wrong, finding a place that accepts you can be the most magical thing in the world.

John has always seen things others could not see. He runs away to fabled London to find his fortune, but all he finds are grimy streets, rife with hangings and disease. Black Jack is a fast-talking pickpocket ready to show John a new life in the big city. When John first sees Shakespeare’s wondrous Globe theatre, he becomes convinced that this is where he truly belongs. But can Black Jack resist the urge to make some easy coin off of his new, naïve friend? And can John step up to the stage before the beast of the city swallows them both? AIRY NOTHING is a magical period tale of two boys finding friendship, love, and acceptance in seething Elizabethan London.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Queer, Young Adult, Fiction

253 pages, Paperback

Published August 25, 2021

Reviews

[Gill James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clarissa Pattern here brings us a glimpse of an unusual world. Protagonist John looks and often dresses like a girl. Indeed he often feels more comfortable in his feminine persona. This may seem an unusual consideration in Shakespeare’s England. Except of course it isn’t entirely; young boys / men had to take on the female parts in the theatres and John is also taken into that world.
John has another unusual quality; he can see fairies, he has visions and a hobgoblin is a frequent companion.
Pattern offers us some richly drawn characters and paints for us what feels like an authentic picture of the London of the time and of the Globe theatre. We are really taken there.
In a section at the end of the novel, Pattern writes about the quotes from Shakespeare she has used and why. This too is fascinating.

[I. Merey]

I still remember when I first read this book (it was on a train, on a phone, screaming towards Hungary. As in the train was screaming.. not the phone.) From the first few lines, I could feel that I was about to be drawn into something special. This is the type of book that is almost impossible to classify (incidentally, my favorite types of books.) It's not a romance (though it is incredibly romantic). It's historical and feels accurate to the time it portrays (but without the unmasked look-how-much-I-knowness, that sometimes weighs down historical fiction.) It is queer and genderfluid (again though, without effort. Unselfconsciously.) The story moves quickly and yet, I often had that pleasant lingering feeling of slice of life, more than plot-driven fiction. Unhurried, and allowing you and itself to breathe.

The story itself is both familiar and unusual: John is a country-boy from a normal hamlet who has always been ridiculed for two things: his soft looks and his ability to see between the worlds. A family tragedy makes him run away from home and try his luck in the terrifying, roiling city of London. Here, he meets Black Jack (a boy who is as rambunctious, outgoing, and resourceful as John is reticent and shy)--and he also encounters the idea of acting--notably, people born as boys being allowed to appear as women and for once, being celebrated, not ridiculed, for this trait. The book now follows John's rocky path to the stage, and how the two boys reckon with themselves and their unfolding feelings for each other....

One of my favorite aspects is how the story weaves in snippets of Shakespeare (most notably, The Tempest, though many many more of his works are featured), and theatre life in general, and the generous explanation at the end of the book, of the lines interwoven throughout the tale. I'm always a fan of self-reflexive fiction that reminds us of all the stories we've been weaving and continue to weave, and 'Airy' manages to show intriguing glimpses of the stories that have inspired it. Though surprisingly dark at times, it always stays on the side of hope, love, trust--and creation.

I edited this book, so I will not star it, but obviously, I would not have bothered if I did not think it was a wonderful story that deserves to be read. I write this review because I'm just dang excited about this story and I must write about the things that excite me. I hope more people read and find the tale of John and Jack, and hold it in their heart, as I do.

[Jun Nozaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

If someone had asked me if I wanted to read a Shakespearean, historical fiction book, I probably would have politely declined. Boy, am I glad I did not forego reading this book. The writing's flow was impeccable, the atmosphere light and phantastical, dark and gritty; the wonderful mix of adventure, tension, wonder, and magic kept me reading on and on.

As Pattern has woven multiple seemingly incongruent threads together, the resulting tapestry is all the more realistic and believable, because life never is clear cut or easily sorted into neat boxes. Despite not being overly long, the book manages to effortlessly explore a number of things that make us human - morality, love, temptation, gender roles, trust, wickedness...

After closing this book, there was a warm contentedness in my heart. The tenderness in this book was inspiring, I hope to see more relationships like the one Jack and John have in our world as well.

I read on both paperback and kindle, but would prefer the paperback as the it's got a pleasant layout, and the book feels nicer to hold than my phone. The small screen was not optimal, but was decent enough to keep reading on when I couldn't have the book on me.

[sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

i received an advance review copy for free, and i am leaving this review voluntarily :D

the main character, john, in the eyes of other people, is considered "different" for being feminine that affects his confidence deeply. set in elizabethan shakespeare, he met jack, where an unexpected journey starts. this book thought me that it isn't impossible for us to find a place where we'll belong and be accepted by others, like how john found this at the shakespeare theater.

we witnessed the characters development, how jack and john's blossoming friendship begin to change their lives. when i arrived near the ending, i was hit with melancholy because john, once again was alone without jack by his side. their reunion parallels their first meeting that i was basking in the afterglow of their fiery love confessions.

also, the beautiful passages from shakespeare's plays honed this book to perfection. i didn't know that i'll be interested in those after reading this. god i'm soo inlove with the book cover TT

[Dean Gammon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful read. Some great character developments. But the creative and skilled descriptions transport you back into history and the story where you can feel and breathe in the landscape.

John a young beautiful boy is fully aware of his insecurities finds his true character through his own journey and those characters that he comes into contact with. But his percieved weakness and innocence are traits that make him loved and liked by those around him.

This story is wonderfully played in Shakespeare history where it is evident that the author has done her research. A lovely and rewarding read.

[ashes ➷ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really sweet LGBT histfic for people who wish books would slow down and let them enjoy the characters’ daily lives. I got an ARC in exchange for a (now super late) review, and am enjoying the challenge of rating this book.

Why the challenge? Well, I knew that this book was about half For Me and about half Not For Me. I’m not a histfic person, and especially not a Shakespeare-era person... but I really, really like ambiguous(ly) LGBT characters, and I was especially interested to read something I knew was purposefully being written, edited, and published to be Out There—I will admit to knowing the awesome guy who runs the publishing house, and I endlessly respect his willingness to just... do shit. Why be at the mercy of tradpub and ‘professionalism’ and whatever else when you can just publish your own work? The entire point of the house is to get writing out there without traditional barriers, down to the unique, beautiful, and nontraditional cover (which absolutely drew me into requesting an ARC. AUGHHHH PRETTY.)

And I think that’s basically the predictor of whether you’ll enjoy this book. I admit that I’m very much a Traditional Structure person (which is not to say the Western triangle structure only, just usually something with a firm structure and precedent), so, again, I knew I was reading something out of my wheelhouse... which is what makes it so hard to review!

The plot structure is honestly really interesting, and the whole time I found myself thinking about it and working to analyze it. I think it’s best compared to webcomics/serials, where you have a set of characters you follow through a few arcs, with one big Thing at the end, and varied small Things up until then. It’s really exciting to see room for not just aesthetic but structural freedom in LGBT publishing houses. If anything, I’m a little disappointed in myself for proving to be so traditional-structure-oriented...

The characters here are really sweet, and remind me (in the best way) of yaoi/BL, where everyone seems so distinct and unique... belonging neither to their historical world nor to ours. They’re something altogether more interesting, because isn’t that the point of fiction? They feel distinctly unreal, and like the point is not to be real.

And, obviously, that also means the attitude towards LGBT things is also kind of fae-like, which is to say, while a historian could probably tell me exactly whether this was historically accurate, I didn’t mind either way—I liked that the characters felt like they were Beyond anyone’s standards and labels, and it made me excited to read more like this.

I should probably mention the fantasy, but I have almost nothing to say there, because I am just not a very intellectual fantasy fan—I liked the fae, and the role they served, and their ambiguity as well! I liked that the story wasn’t ever really about them, even when the characters were fooled into thinking that it was.

So why four stars? Two thoughts I had. The first point is that, while I like the freedom of plot, I wish I could sense more intentionality in it. I don’t have to be able to label everything—I was recently very intrigued by a few books and films I loved but couldn’t pack into any of my Structure Jam Jars—but I wanted a sense that the plot was deliberate, structured with intention and purpose and goals in mind, and I felt that I didn’t get it as much as I could have.

The second point is that I was somewhat confused through the first quarter of the book. And I want to push back on this critique myself, because... well, who cares if I was confused about John’s sex/gender? Why should I, as the reader, feel entitled to knowing it? But, again, I think this was less intentional (as in, a choice to make John’s AGAB ambiguous, because the reader shouldn’t have to know) and more Something That Happened To Me. It also happened that there was a lot about fae, and to what extent they were real or visible or not, and what was going on generally. This absolutely smoothed out before even the halfway mark, but I still wish I had had an easier time getting into the book.

In summary: Like indie books? Wish indie books would lean into their indieness, rather than trying to ‘stack up against’ or imitate tradpub? Frothing at the mouth over my obviously biased review from the perspective of someone who is clearly a tradpub type and read this book anyway? READ THE BOOK! It’s out there and funky and I really can’t imagine it having been done justice by some Bigass Publishing House, and I’m so glad it is what it is. Thanks for the review copy!

[David Beeson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“John ran, his feet thumping on the uneven ground,” we read at the start of Clarissa Pattern’s Airy Nothing. “His lungs heaved against the tightness of his bodice, and his skirts clawed at his calves, clinging to the flesh of his thighs. When he stumbled, the hobgoblin bobbed around him, pulling at his clothes so they didn’t trip him and steadying his shoulder with its small, powerful hands, but there was only so much a house sprite could do. And an almost infinite list of things it couldn’t.”

So we’re introduced to John, the protagonist of a novel that is compelling, witty, uplifting, realist, surrealist, shocking and ultimately charming. It’s inhabited by men and women who are eminently believable, in a real world so alive in its description that I could practically smell the foul air of the streets. And yet it’s surrounded by a surreal world always slightly beyond our comprehension and sometimes John’s too.

John is his name and the pronouns are male. So our protagonist is male, indeed a boy as we’ll soon discover. But he’s dressed as a girl and is being chased as a girl. “‘Come now, my pretty maiden, show yourself,’ one of the two horsemen in pursuit will call out, “don’t be shy. We will use you well.’” A wonderful example of Pattern’s skill in writing for impact: the threat of rape is only heightened for being implied.

What about the reference to a hobgoblin? It looks like he – she – is accompanied by a creature from a world beyond, capable, if only up to a certain point, of helping her – him – in this one.

But that’s John. He stands between many worlds. Between genders (but from here on, I’m going to call him ‘he’, since that’s what Pattern does). Between, we discover, the village where he was born and the metropolis, London, where he’s heading. Between the real world of a tough everyday existence, and the surreal world, the world of faeries as John calls it, which – and this is a winningly humorous aspect of the book – aren’t either as powerful or as willing to help humans as one might hope.

Even the real world isn’t the one we’re familiar with, but one our ancestors once knew. Because Pattern gives us John in the world of sixteenth-century England, towards the end of Elizabeth I’s reign, with William Shakespeare established as the great playwright of his age, and the Globe theatre the forum in which he shines.

John is fleeing his village towards London, where he meets the second main character, Jack, the gutter boy, petty thief and expert at survival in the vicious streets of a filthy metropolis of its age. At first, Jack sees in him only a means to make money (by selling him, implicitly for the same ugly purpose as drove the horsemen chasing John when we first met him). Later, though, Jack learns to love him.

It’s Jack that guides John through the streets of London, which Pattern paints for us with shocking realism – a wonderful contrast to the surrealism of the faerie world that always accompanies him, and occasionally breaks through to show him what lies behind the sometimes innocuous appearance of the more mundane reality he inhabits. Pattern gives us the stench, the filth, the din and the violence of a raucous city seething with human life struggling to overcome desperately unsanitary conditions, poverty and lawlessness, where death is always just around the corner, through pestilence, the violence of a criminal, or the state violence of execution – the latter a public performance she strikingly paints for us, to be enjoyed by a vast audience, in a bleak but powerful contrast with the other type of public performance, in the theatre that offers John a haven.

It’s to that theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe, that John travels with Jack to guide him. But nothing is simple in Pattern’s world, nothing happens directly, everything’s subtle and full of contrasts. So John, the in-between boy, transitions between one Shakespeare and another. The one he first meets isn’t the great playwright we’re familiar with, but his younger brother, Edmund, an actor in the same company. He’s forever hoping his brother will give him a part to play commensurate with his aspirations even though we, the readers, know it would be way beyond his ability. As you can imagine, Edmund is one of the great comic characters of the novel, and that contrast between his ambitions and his talents is the main source of the humour he generates.

John came to London looking for the faerie queen. What he finds, in the end, with Edmund as his steppingstone, is William Shakespeare. John, one of the rare people who can see the faerie world, realises that the playwright is forever accompanied by huge blue faerie. Maybe that makes Shakespeare the true goal of John’s quest, a real faerie queen, not the fantasy one he’d imagined. Or, putting it in other words, I read the search for the faerie queen as leading him to the great poet and conjuror of the magic that is the stage, a far more enigmatic being than the fantasy faerie he might have pictured.

The Globe again provides a wonderful dichotomy of worlds for John to float between. He’s sometimes performer and sometimes spectator, often both. And he’s a keen observer of the distinction between the actor and the character.

That last contrast is particularly striking in a world in which it was still illegal for women to appear on a public stage. So female parts were played by boys. Since Shakespeare often has his female characters disguise themselves as men, John can take delight in watching a boy playing a woman playing a man, just the kind of gender fluidity that marks his own life.

Still, it isn’t only Shakespeare or the Globe that John finds in London. It’s Jack and the growing bond between them. Key to the plot is how that will end. Can a young street thief like Jack ultimately be the companion that John, destined to be a great actor, most needs? Can love blossom between them? Can John find in that love the stability and contentment he seeks, even though the world he inhabits is marked by constant ambivalence?

It’s worth reading the book just to find out.

[Briar Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man, this is some beautiful YA/YA-adjacent historical fiction. The time period has been well researched and feels vividly real, despite most of the language being contemporary and very straightforward. The cameos by Queen Elizabeth I and William Shakespeare feel slightly corny/hokey, but I know if I'd been reading this at thirteen or fourteen I would just have been thrilled by them. The plot meanders and the pacing is a little odd, with apparent threats to the main characters barely coming up for long stretches of the novel and/or resolving in a manner that feels abrupt, things that feel set up to cause a major rift between the two leads blowing over without any argument, sudden major time jumps between chapters (with the amount of time elapsed often unclear until much later, when the reader has enough context to make a reasonable inference), etc. But ultimately, this isn't nearly as jarring or unsatisfying as it might sound: this novel is, at its heart, a character study, bildungsroman, and magical realist slice of life story, not a drama or thriller or adventure tale. Its treatment of danger, conflict, and problems is true to the way many people experience them in real life, and its willingness to adopt a fairly gentle, laid back slice of life approach to the story of a queer romance between two young teenagers in extremely traumatic, chaotic life circumstances is refreshing in many ways.

I mentioned magical realism-- one aspect of the novel that really shines is the way Pattern incorporates John's visions of faeries and moments of apparent supernatural transformation or insight into the story. These interludes are described in the same straightforward but vivid prose as the rest of the novel, making them easy to follow and grounded-feeling even when they are quite surreal or ephemeral. They are of a piece with everything else. I also appreciate that Pattern does not bother to clarify to the reader whether these interludes are hallucinations or intense fantasies stemming from some kind of neurodivergence, or whether John is clairvoyant and can perceive a faerie realm that exists outside of his mind. Indeed, she strongly suggests it does not matter which is the case, because the visions and insights are often helpful to John, and are always communicating valuable information about the world around him that he might not pick up or understand through more ordinary channels. This is just one of many examples of fluidity in the novel-- John's movement between boy and girl and the way John and Jack's relationship is positioned between friendship and romance for most of the story come up much more often in reviews-- but it's one I wanted to point out as appreciated and insightful.

[Janine Bourdo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is profound and beautifully written. It is atmospheric, a quality I love, but because of that, not always easy to read. Elizabethan London is a gritty place to inhabit.

The novel also asks for some things from its readers. A knowledge of Shakespeare’s works is a definite plus. We should be willing to withstand some disorientation: the main character sees the world quite differently than many might. Yes, John is gay and transsexual, but he also sees more dimensions than other folks do. If we can rise to these challenges, there are rewards. We are transported to another world and meet exceptional, luminous beings.

I received a free review copy with no obligation. This is my honest opinion.

[Anna Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure magic. Clarissa waves a tale of an unusual child who leaves his Medieval English village in search of London and a queen of fairies, only to find a fairy tale of a different kind. When we meet John, the main character, they aren’t certain of anything: who they are, what to expect in London, and they know nothing of people. The naïveté, over time, is crushed by the realities of the world they live in but that is not to say that John is ground by what they see and live through. But that would be telling. This is a story of love that made me smile and cry in equal measure, and it would be apt to call it Shakespearean in scope and in language. The bard himself shows up, and I felt that his theater was just as it had been hundreds of years ago. It is transporting and lovely, and I can’t wait to see what Clarissa writes next. Sequel, maybe??

[James Siewert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovingly crafted, with carefully cultivated words and vivid imagination throughout, Airy Nothing tells the story of fragile, gender-fluid John and his white-knight to the rescue, the street-wise and silver-tongued Black Jack.

A chance encounter turns into a fated meeting as the two young heroes must navigate the tricky and treacherous streets of London during its Shakespearean heyday, with scenes richly illustrating both the squalor and the lavishness that only the city at the centre of the world can hold. Complete with a diverse set of supporting characters that add to the realism of the background, this story drips with creativity and detail, painting a lovely story that many readers will find east to connect with.

With flowing text coupled with an interesting premise that leaves readers wondering if fairies really do exist (or if they're actually the imaginations of a mental disorder), this story paints a rich tapestry of gentle, chaste and innocent love between two people who've found each other in all the muck and grime of medieval London.

Though not starring characters I can normally get behind, this PG-rated story of John and Jack will very much appeal to fans of anime/yaoi fiction, where innocent, delicate and naive swains win the affections of more experienced but still gallant ruffians with hearts of gold. The exchanges between our heroes are quite safe and quite sweet, devoid of the roughness and coarse actions that would soil their fairy-tale-come-to-life romance, which should greatly appeal to and satisfy fans of the genre.

All in, Airy Nothing is a beautifully written, pleasant, safe and luxurious read, meticulously built by a hand that favours the sweet and touching innocence of love between a destined pair of youths, whose beauty is mostly untouched by the harsh world around them. Not my cup of tea, but fans of this genre will gleefully sip this lush treat of well-written and clearly cared for artistry.

I received a free copy of this book via Reader Favorites' Author Review exchange program, and wrote this review based on my honest opinion of the story.

[Dael Akkerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating depiction of later 16th Century England and Elizabethen theatre, illuminated by the beauty and power of Shakespeare's writing and the tender love story at its heart. However, it is so much more than that. The extraordinary breadth of the author's scholarship is evident, but it is so well employed that it is never obvious: and her writing is so skilful that although the world she creates is viscerally realistic with its fair share of brutal horror, it is nonetheless beautiful and utterly magical.

[Maxeene · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Airy Nothing' is a tale of friendship, love, acceptance, and courage, set against the backdrop of Elizabethan London, where danger lies at every turn. We follow John, a boy who can see into a world filled with magic, who embarks upon a journey to London in order to find the Faerie Queene. He has left his village, where he has faced rejection, humiliation, the loss of his mother and twin sister, and abuse at the hands of his father. John knows what it is to be an outcast. When he reaches London, he discovers that the city is far from a magical place, and John senses that he is likely to continue being an outcast. That is until he meets (in a rather unexpected way) Black Jack, a friendly and talkative young lad, who takes John under his wing. What follows is a (perhaps unlikely) friendship. Yet the reader questions whether the friendship is true; Black Jack's 'profession' is criminal, and he makes a rather fine pickpocket. We wonder whether Black Jack can resist the temptation of making money off of John.

As their friendship grows, John and Jack face several challenges (one of which culminates in a delightfully gory scene). They grow closer to each other and ever more dependent on each other (John is dependent on Jack not only for protection, but also for the comfort he offers in an unfamiliar place, and Jack is dependent on John for the escape John offers him from his criminal activities and his fight to survive in a world of cutthroats and danger).

John is entranced by the world of the theatre. Shakespeare's plays, particularly 'Twelfth Night', have a great effect on John. Will he find his true calling there? And is Black Jack destined to be more than just a petty thief?

'Airy Nothing' was a joy to read. Pattern's writing is evocative, and Elizabethan London is brought to life. The setting in particular was something that made me excited to read 'Airy Nothing'. Elizabethan London is certainly fascinating to read about, and it is interesting to explore the shifts in societal attitudes and important cultural and historical moments that occurred in this period (Pattern, of course, firmly sets 'Airy' in a period where literature and theatre were thriving, thanks in no small part to Shakespeare's works). With Pattern's writing, the reader feels as though they are walking through the streets of London, holding their nose because of the stench, looking over their shoulder, and, of course, frequently checking their pockets. Pattern also crafts a wondrous world that exists alongside the world John and Jack, and the rest of the colourful cast, inhabit. John flits between both worlds, and the descriptions of the creatures and colours of the magical world were a nice contrast to the grim London.

I loved following John on his journey towards acceptance and self-acceptance, as he initially struggles with his identity. I found John's journey towards self-acceptance particularly heart-warming, and there were several moving scenes where John wears what makes him most comfortable and lets his hair cascade down his back to express his identity.

If, like me, you find the idea of exploring the Elizabethan period and the literary flourishing of that time an exciting one, you will soon discover that Pattern does not disappoint, as she shows that she has done her research throughout the book. Pattern includes some interesting things about Elizabethan England that I did not know about. For example, I had not heard of the benefit of the clergy, and I thought that Pattern used her knowledge of Elizabethan England very well as this particular point became an important part of the plot. Pattern also demonstrates her thorough knowledge of Shakespeare, weaving his words into the beginning of each chapter. I must admit that I haven't read as much Shakespeare as I perhaps should have (something I hope to rectify soon!), and I think that the excerpts at the beginning of each chapter would have been lost on me if Pattern had not included a section at the end telling us which play each excerpt comes from, the context of the excerpt, and its relevance in each chapter of 'Airy'. Pattern is a thoughtful writer, not demanding an extensive knowledge of Shakespeare to enjoy her work. I thought this was a nice touch and a great nod to Shakespeare, who features in the story.

On the whole, I would definitely recommend 'Airy Nothing'. Pattern writes wonderfully, and her characters are a delight to read about. The themes of the novel are as important today as they were in John and Jack's time. If you want a light-hearted story about friendship, love, bravery and a journey towards self-acceptance, 'Airy Nothing' is for you.

[Daire Fray · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazingly good

This book was really confusing at first but the more I read the more clear and interesting things became I love John and jacks characters though the name closeness was confusing at times I’m happy they both found a place to belong I recommend reading it it was a great adventure

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Review

This was a remarkable read. The author did a great job of striking the perfect balance between the realism of the character growth and settings with the fantasy element of the magical realism the genre calls for. The way the author explores the world that exists just a shift away from our own world and how the protagonist deals with this world as he makes his way through the streets of London was so unique to see, and the magical nature of the narrative added to the heightened tone and emotions the author was delving into.

Character growth was very prominent in this narrative, and actually made the story what it was. The exploration of sexuality and identity in this narrative was so profound through John’s story, exploring the world’s perspective of a person and standing this against the feelings, emotions, and internal knowledge that a person has about their own selves. The complex relationship not only between John and the magical world of the fae around him but between him and Jack was so moving and kept the reader invested in this story.

The Verdict

Captivating, entertaining, and hauntingly beautiful, author Clarissa Pattern’s “Airy Nothing” is a must-read magical realism novel. The breathtaking scenery and atmosphere the author created mirrored the fantasy and emotional character growth that brought real people to live in a world that feels so much like our own world and really created a gripping story that readers wouldn’t be able to put down.

[Claude Forthomme · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Unforgettable, that evocation of Elizabethan London, Shakespeare, the grand old man himself and his brother, the Globe theater and all the rascals roaming the dirty city streets, including the delightful green-eyed, red-haired pickpocket named Black Jack, the sweet girl Bess who gets hanged, and the scary, cruel Butcher. All these colorful people swirl around a young lad, John, who has just arrived in town, running away from his home village where he was despised and hated by his "Da" (father). Poor John, waif-like and beautiful with his long blond hair, shy and lost in his own fantasy world filled with fairies and hobgoblins engaged in endless pranks.

As John's adventure unfolds, we come to realize that this is a unique coming-of-age story as John discovers his vocation for the theatre and a delightful, "airy" depiction of an unlikely friendship developing between the tough Black Jack and the sweet John, the "Fair One". A tale beautifully told by a master wordsmith and a lover of Shakespeare. A tribute to the old master, but never boring. On the contrary, full of unexpected twists and turns, a book you can't put down. Indeed, don't miss out on this book, the reading experience is exceptional in so many ways. It will remain with you for a long time after you've finished, that's what happened to me. And that doesn't happen often!

[Michael Rebellino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clarissa Pattern expertly weaves together fantasy and historical fiction in Airy Nothing to create another world where the story of John (and Black Jack) unfolds. From the first page until the end, I felt like I was inhabiting that world and I was totally in it, not even questioning it, just wrapped up and invested in the story and reading as fast as I could to find out what was going to happen next. Airy Nothing is a gripping tale that's wonderfully written, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good read.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hard to put down and overall a deeply immersive coming-of-age experience. I would not be quick to label it as a fantasy novel, because it is so much more than that. The characters feel relatable and well-developed, but what I found most skilled and intriguing is the author's ability for world-building. The book is full of longing and an obvious love for theatre. I loved spending time in this book's atmosphere and didn't want it to end too soon. A satisfying and though-provoking read.

[Sara Jesus · Rating 3 out of 5]

A enchanting tale of love and frendship in the Shakesperean London. I enjoy all the descripts about the city, the Globe Theatre and the XVII century. I really like the development of the main character. John is so sweet and have such a great heart. His relationship with Black Jack is very sincere. I only did not undrestand his visions with faries, and did wish that Back Jack revealed his feelings sooner.

[Joel Shoemaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a delight to read! An unconventional take on Shakespearian worlds and characters. I found it a bit of work to get into, but once fully immersed in the world and all its inhabitants, I unearthed nonstop joy until the very last page, and well after! Kudos to the author for creating a very unique piece. Terrific!

[D.K. Marley · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you’ve always been told you’re wrong, finding a place that accepts you can be the most magical thing in the world.

John has always seen things others could not see. He runs away to fabled London to find his fortune, but all he finds are grimy streets, rife with hangings and disease. Black Jack is a fast-talking pickpocket ready to show John a new life in the big city. When John first sees Shakespeare’s wondrous Globe theatre, he becomes convinced that this is where he truly belongs. But can Black Jack resist the urge to make some easy coin off of his new, naïve friend? And can John step up to the stage before the beast of the city swallows them both? AIRY NOTHING is a magical period tale of two boys finding friendship, love, and acceptance in seething Elizabethan London.

“John ran, his feet thumping on the uneven ground. His lungs heaved against the tightness of his bodice, and his skirts clawed at his calves, clinging to the flesh of his thighs. When he stumbled, the hobgoblin bobbed around him, pulling at his clothes so they didn’t trip him and steadying his shoulder with its small, powerful hands, but there was only so much a house sprite could do. And an almost infinite list of things it couldn’t.”

From the outset, you are swept off your feet as John, a young boy in a dress with long blond hair and soulful eyes, hides in the bushes to escape the ‘monsters’ on horseback. His dream unfurls as you, the reader, are sucked into John’s world of imagination – of twirling hobgoblins and fanciful faeries – and his desire to find his place in the mad smelly rat-infested hovel of sixteenth century London. But John’s problem is one he cannot escape, and is the reason he ran away from home, that being his small size and fair face – a trait his father, his “Da” could not abide.
And all the while, on his journey to and through London, you learn of his secrets, of the guilt and grief he tucks deep inside his heart, and the desperation he has for acceptance in a world where men displayed the size of their codpieces, fought in the streets with swords, and spouted their nightly conquests while downing their ale. Boys like John are quickly trodden underfoot, but soon after his initial disillusionment with the sights and smells of London (for he is sure that the Faerie Queene would never live in such a vile place), he is befriended by a wily street-wise pickpocket known as Black Jack, a tall redhead who mistakes John for a girl and takes him under his wing.
In true Dicken’s fashion, John and Black Jack echo the survival techniques employed by Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger, but in true Shakespearean style, Ms Pattern immerses the reader in a rich and glorious prose worthy of the Bard himself. And for a while, you aren’t quite sure of Jack’s intentions with John as his entire life is centred on grifting... even thinking for a time of using John to put some coin in his pocket.
A notation here before going on – Ms Pattern’s descriptions of the London streets during this time period are nothing short of brilliant – incredibly descriptive and believable, so much so that you can smell the rotting fish heads and the acidic urine-filled mud along the Thames. In contrast, just as vivid are the fantastical images of John’s visions and dreams – your mind is filled with a plethora of swirls, smells, and creatures!

As John got closer, he saw that there was no bellowing beast, only a vast, wounded animal broken up into individual men, women, and children, dirty and reeking, with shabby clothes. All of them stank, the younger ones like wet straw, the adults sour and sickly. Some of them carried baskets on their backs, overflowing with wood, linen, fruit and herbs, which John could see were squashed beyond usefulness. Nevertheless, he sidled closer to a woman burdened with leaves, hoping that their aroma might mask some of the human stench. The mints were bruised and torn, all their refreshing properties lost to the wind. But their was marjoram too – a symbol of love and happiness ahead. No one looked at him or spoke to him, not even the people near enough to touch. It felt lonely, but it also meant there was nothing about him to make people stare. He was just one more limb of the injured creature limping through the city gates.

John is a character befitting so many of Shakespeare’s creations. He is Puck, Ariel, Juliet, and Viola all rolled into one, and the clever way Ms Pattern used quotes from Shakespeare to head each chapter is a beautiful nod to the thread running through the book, that of Sebastian and Viola’s story from Twelfth Night – the separation of a brother and sister which resonates in John’s own life.
While under Black Jack’s tutelage, John discovers his true calling while visiting the Bankside theatre of the Globe, and after a few magical tricks from his hobgoblin he finds himself as apprentice to Edward Shakespeare, brother to the Bard. And with his slight size and girlish looks, he fits right in among the troupe of players, and comes into his own playing the female roles of Shakespeare’s plays. Ms Pattern even gives us the reality of the pit of groundlings standing before the stage – the sweat, the pressing of bodies – all fixated on the entertainment before them.

The room smelt of ink and old parchment and blood and dreams and butterfly wings and red thornless roses in winter.

Following more into the story, all is not well with Black Jack, his one true friend, and after an almost disastrous evening of thieving, and after John’s first experience with witnessing the horrors of hangings at Tilbury, both boys find themselves on the angry side of a man known as the Butcher.
Their growing attachment to one another is put to the test as the only way for John to survive is for Jack to sacrifice their friendship. John’s fame on the stage grows, and Jack disappears. Until... well, no spoilers here!! Read the book!!
Airy Nothing is a rare book, indeed. Magical and airy, delightful and intriguing, a tribute work to Shakespeare and an exceptional work of art by this talented author. For those of you who know me, I am a huge Shakespearean fan, so I can say without hesitation that I bow to the author’s skill and craft in weaving his words and essence into this body of work. I could not put it down and absorbed every word until the very end... and even afterwards, they linger in my mind, flitting around like that cartwheeling faery nudging me with a smile and wink.
This is a unique gift of historical and fantasy melded together in perfection, and while at times you have to take a moment to gauge what is going on (sort of like Puck racing through a midsummer dream), this book by no means disappoints in any way. To me, this was more about the connections of friendship, of sacrifice and acceptance, than any sort of romantic attachment. I think the author implied it but that never came across, which was fine with me since John and Jack’s friendship reached a level of more believable emotion than anything else.

But then there was a faint breeze and it all blew away into tinier and tinier fragments, particles of dust – each a world itself. And he realised deep in his soul that everything he though he knew was, in the end, just airy nothings.

Surreality and reality in perfect balance. John hovers between worlds, between being a boy with girl features, and a gentle soul in a very harsh landscape and life. I also loved the fact that the author uses the hobgoblin as comic relief, again a lovely nod to Shakespeare who used the same technique in his developing different characters. So many times I found myself laughing out loud or a smile breaking across my face.
The contrasts represented in this book are incredibly striking and so often reveal in subtle ways, in symbolic ways, the same as Shakespeare’s plays, such as the contrast between John watching a play from the penny pit to his performing on the stage and watching the groundlings before him. His quest for the Faery Queene, his imaginary world, leading him to the real world of the Globe Theatre and the real gifted playwright (blessed by a muse and followed by a blue faery). His soft nature against the starkness of Jack’s demeanour and upbringing.
There is no doubt in my mind in giving this book Five Stars and a “Highly Recommended” award from The Historical Fiction Company.

[Annabel Harz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clarissa Pattern’s Airy Nothing is spellbinding. From the opening paragraph the reader understands that the protagonist is unusual: interest piques as he runs in fear, wearing girl’s clothes and helped by his hobgoblin protector. He is “not a Fair Maiden, but a badly made boy called John with no friends in the world apart from a faerie only [he] can see”. Pattern deftly integrates gender fluidity into a previous era. Participants in contemporary conversations regarding LGBTIQ+ issues will relate to the characters’ sensitively-portrayed reactions and emotions.

John’s delightful hobgoblin guides him to recognise danger, prompting John to question, “Should you listen to people’s words or trust how safe you felt?”. The ability to transport into the safe and kind faerie world proves critical to the naïve country boy’s navigation of the dark, dirty city John finds himself in: plague-ridden Victorian London with its colourful characters scratching to survive, where he is “just one more limb of the” overwhelming “vast, wounded animal” that constitutes the city. The charmed ones who see the faerie folk also see people in their true forms. In gothic horror style, the faerie-world demons are truly frightening.

The settings depicted through eloquent prose are visceral. The historically-accurate backdrop of London streets and the theatre, overlayed by the faerie world and other magical elements, are radiant. If this story were filmed the mise en scéne would be rich with the detail woven into it, the opulent descriptions that stimulate the imagination.

Black Jack, the streetwise urchin who takes John under his wing, initially has the intention to exploit the innocent newcomer. The bond that builds between the two is extraordinary, hovering in the unspoken space between platonic and romantic relationship. As Black Jack’s motivation to keep John around changes, heartache is foreshadowed: what these two remarkable people gift each other ultimately weaves unbreakable synergy.

The difficulty of living on the streets is eased by the boys’ acceptance into the troupe of William Shakespeare’s new Globe Theatre. Black Jack urges John, “If you want to be something, be it, do not fret over what others are thinking”. The magic continues to layer as the players add yet another element of fantasy.

Each chapter begins with a Shakespearean quote which deftly relates to the plot. Endnotes explain Pattern’s authorial decisions in mirroring or subverting the playwright’s original meanings to match the characters and the plot. She reveals, “I love this [airy nothings] quote and … take it to display how magical the world actually is, how love and poetry, (and in John’s case some seriously mad visions), can transform the ordinary things that most people don’t even notice into things of terror and beauty.”

Airy Nothing is remarkable. Lovers of Shakespeare, along with readers of fantasy and historical fiction, will all delight in this novel. Readers may well find that, like John, they realise “deep in [their] soul[s] that everything [they] thought [they] knew was, in the end, just airy nothings”. Be prepared to be transported.

[Gina Troisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Airy Nothing, set in Elizabethan England, is a book like no other. What a magical world Clarissa Pattern has created! I was with John, the protagonist, from the very beginning, and I was compelled to follow him throughout. John escapes from his damaging home life and arrives in London, where he makes an unlikely friend, Jack, who takes John under his wing, first out of selfishness, but then, out of an undeniable tenderness and growing love. Jack tells John, “If you want to be something, be it, do not fret over what others are thinking.” This line exemplifies the content of this book so well. John is running from his dark past, searching for a sense of belonging, grappling with his identity and wondering where he fits, when he finds meaning not only with Jack, but in the fascinating world of theater.

This book balances the real and the imagined so well. Although it contains original, fantastical elements, such as faeries and hobgoblins, it also contains raw human passion, desire, hardship, and the will to survive. The writing is enchanting and layered, and the characters are authentic and alive on the page. This book so powerfully explores the complexities of being human. Clarissa Pattern has crafted a compelling, gripping story that is full of surprises.

[Jamie Deacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those novels where the setting is every bit as important a character as the heroes themselves, and what better time and place to combine magic with gritty realism than Elizabethan London? Think Oliver Twist meets the fairy-tale quality of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and you’ll be some way to imagining the atmosphere of this story. From the disease and cut-throat criminals that plague the streets and alleyways, to the colourful world of the theatre and the subtle exploration of sexuality and gender roles, Clarissa Pattern brings everything to life with vivid descriptions and beautiful prose. Most of all, the relationship between the sweetly innocent John and streetwise thief Jack warmed my heart and was a sheer pleasure to read.

[Sofia Kyriaki Kouloufakou · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is set in a kind of Shakeaspearean era, and it involves Jonathan, who is often mistaken for a girl, but he himself feels more comfortable showing his feminine side (which is totally subjective). It is so refreshing for a writer to talk about LGBTQ+ qualities, especially in Victorian London.

As he runs away from his village, he's trying to find the Fairie Queen, but then he'll find himself in the Globe Theater, where he'll meet Edmund Shakespeare.

I think that it was so magical. The writing was exceptionally good, the dialogue was also so cute, and I could just feel Jonathan's joy, bewilderment, sadness, anxiety. I would really have liked to have him as an actual friend irl.

I'm so looking forward to read more of this author works!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[San Cassimally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Airy Nothing By Clarissa Pattern.
A tRaum Book, with cover art by Rysz Merey.

My approach to book reviewing is to award it 5 stars to begin with. Then as I read through, I may find some weaknesses, and deduct accordingly, perhaps half a star at a time.
This is a book for young adults, and the air is filled with magic noises and beings, goblins and witches, and they were welcome, but I thought that their introductions were not well sign-posted, which left me confused, so after 20 or so pages, I decided to start again, with a clearer understanding, and that straightened out things until our young hero found himself in the belly of some weird undefined creature who is made to expel him, and he is in London. I found this bit preposterous, and reluctantly erased half a star.
The hero John is an essentially androgynous young man who has suffered all kinds of humiliations in his village, specially at the hands of his ogre of a dad, and he wants out. He runs away in search of the Faerie Queen.
Once in London, he will find it a far cry from what he had imagined, or hoped. It is a terrifying ill-smelling place with hangings and corruption. Inevitably he falls into the hands of a young tearaway called Black Jack. We hold our breath for the innocent young fellow, as we fear that his new companion is going to exploit him, to his detriment. I cannot resist a little spoiler here, and reveal that Black Jack will turn out to be Ratso to John’s Midnight Cowboy, rather than Fagin to his Oliver Twist.
The epiphany arrives when he discovers the Globe Theatre, which will redefine his life. Young Edmund Shakespeare, the bard’s brother is a brilliant character. I paused after my first encounter with him, picked up my pencil and retraced the bits I had rubbed out from the fifth star. As someone who revels in girlie clothes, John has found his niche in life.
I was not entirely convinced about the romance between the two protagonists, but taking into account the erudition, the exquisite crisp prose we are served with, and the inventiveness of the plot, I did this not reach for my eraser, so the five stars remain.
I might add that this book convinced me of what I already believe: If a book is good enough for young adults, then it is good enough for any reader. A special commendation for Rysz Merey whose illustration for the cover could not resonate more with the contents of the novel.
It is noteworthy that Airy Nothing is Clarissa Pattern’s first book. What a stunning beginning. I predict a bright future for her. Perhaps the next Phillip Pullman?

[Akiva Hersh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clarissa Pattern’s Airy Nothing is a tale of love, hope, and longing and one chock full of faeries, hobgoblins, and very relatable characters. The story centers around John, a “badly made boy,” who goes on a quest for the Faerie Queene in seventeenth-century London in hopes she will help him become a man and make him “new and clean.” His yearning for this comes from past abuse, loss, and rejection.

Not long into his journey, John meets a thief, Jack, who thinks John is a girl and kisses him in a public alley. John swoons but worries about what Jack will think when he discovers the truth about him.

The two make fast friends as Jack introduces John to a world of new people and experiences, but as the story progresses, one worries that Jack only intends to use John. Whatever his aims, Jack and John help the other in ways they have never encountered before. And when they face a common enemy, their relationship takes a swift turn.

This fantasy/coming of age story rings genuine notes about identity, acceptance, and learning to face reality with support from others. At one point, Jack tells John, “If you want to be something, be it, do not fret over what others are thinking,” and this is undoubtedly a central theme in the novel.

Pattern’s research shines as she brings a fantastical London to life with some characters who get close to one’s heart and others who intimidate and repulse. Her use of language keeps the reader engaged and entertained. Some scenes gave me chills, and some brought tears to my eyes.

Airy Nothing is a significant contribution to LGBTQ+ literature. I recommend reading it and do hope to see it in school libraries as well; words open worlds, and Pattern has created a universe where finding acceptance of oneself can begin with the turn of a page.

Akiva Hersh, author of Boy in the Hole and The Magus and The Fool

[Bob Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness what a wonderful read. I serendipitously came across this book yesterday evening and now, eight hours later and very early in the morning, I am a well sated bibliophile full of Shakespeare and romance and fairies and much magic. Oh, and a wee bit of snark.

Clarissa Pattern has written an absolutely brilliant story set at the beginning of the 17th century, around 1600. Honestly, the story is almost a play within a play (hello, A Midsummer Night's Dream).
It is deliciously written and literally I could not put it down. Sidebar...my dogs absolutely hate it when I find a good book that I can't put down because it usually means nobody is going for a walk for a while.

The author provides a background setting which includes some of the horrors of living during this time. The characters are rich and complex and actually very Charles Dickens-ish. Ok, so he wasn't born for another 212 years but it will make sense when you read it...and you really must read this. I'm old, and if I stay up all night to read a book, without falling asleep in my very overstuffed comfy reading chair, I assure you it is worth it.

I don't want to go into the story so read the blurb. There are too many fun surprises for you to discover on your own. But basically it is a story of two young men from very different worlds meeting by chance...or were fairies involved?... and both have very different intentions. That said, I think if there is a sentence that summarizes the story it is a line the author used from one of Shakespeare's plays... 'I would not wish any companion in the world but you.'

Yep. You will shed tears. But not in a sad/bad way...mostly.... rather, in a oh-good-grief-please-let-these-dudes-have-a-happy-ever-after way. So read the book and find out. HA!

[Michael Froilan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This stunning novel captivates you from the jump!

Taking place in the Elizabethan era, Airy Nothing is a dazzling tale about a runaway village boy who journeys to a promised land known as "London."

If I'm being honest, it's a distinctive book genre from what I usually read, but man, I'm sure glad I found this! I love how every spirited page is ingeniously knitted with staggering suspense, grit & light-heartedness. Each chapter beams with picturesque imagery. I couldn't help but feel powerless while soaking in all the enticing lines, pulling me into wondrous and sensual scenes. I even found countless notable quotes from it that I'm still chewing over. Take, for example, "I think we truly exist in the places other people can't see, such as in the best memories in our heads, or the dreams in our heart." –A bite of many gems that await your eyes to dig in.

Exciting and illuminating to the very end, everyone who reads this will have no choice but to absorb the substantial message(s) it bears regarding love, loyalty & life. There's no doubt this endearing book distinctively carries more weight than you can imagine. Simply put, it goes beyond its intriguingly mystical title!
I positively recommend this book.

[Enne Zale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Airy Nothing was a beautiful read where the author captured the ability of creating an experience that feels as if you were there yourself. The Elizabethan England setting is perfect mix for a fantasy theatric type novel, and I think this book did an amazing job with setting up the atmosphere.

I love how she incorporated LGBT characters into her world, because it creates a safe space for readers who are part of the community, and it's definitely a note-worthy add to representation. The protagonist often found comfort in dressing in clothing that was intended for women, looking at the time period this takes place in, this makes John more interesting of a character because of their bravery to be themselves.

My favorite part of the novel was definitely the section in the end where I was able to read about the reasons as to why specific excerpts from Shakespeare were selected by Patterson. This was fascinating to me, and it made the novel feel more personal, almost as if we were having a conversation with the author.

Overall, I definitely recommend giving this book a read if you haven't already, and if you're looking for a sign, this is it!