Iago's Penumbra: A Metaphysical Novel

by Rose Guildenstern

Everybody loves a good ghost story, yet poor dead Vee feels anything but “good” being stuck upstage in the heavens of her own afterlife. She can peek in on Val, who’s “downstage” with the living but haunted by ghosts. Then there’s Julie, stubbornly stage left but longing to be downstage with Val. And finally, poor Peter remains solitary in his stage-rightness with the sneaking suspicion he might be dead wrong. Trapped at center stage lurks the demon Iago, willing to bridge heaven and hell to exit this cursed performance once and for all. Just as Good Omens revamped the book of Revelation and His Dark Materials reimagined Milton’s Paradise Lost , Iago’s Penumbra is a modern love story about the darkness that redeems us, rooted in the works of William Shakespeare—with a little philosophy, physics, and cosmic horror thrown in, just for fun.

240 pages, Paperback

Published May 28, 2023

Reviews

[Brandy Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much to unpack about Iago’s Penumbra that it’s hard to even know where to begin. On the Right Hand you could argue that Iago’s Penumbra should be required reading for all high school students, and on the Left Hand that it should be added to the banned books list. For the reader it is a well written and beautifully executed phantasmal love story, and for the Seeker, it is a love story like no other. Rose Guilenstern brings you Earth shaking allegories and metaphors; a convergence of George Orwell and Dion Fortune wrapped in a M. Night Shyamalan package topped with a bouquet of 12 Red Roses. An absolute must read, even for the non-fiction fan such as myself. Seek and ye shall find.

[Mickey Schoonover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose Guildenstern’s “Iago’s Penumbra” is an original, thought-provoking novel about a ghost and a clairvoyant who fall in love and might just save the world in the process. While the language and philosophy were challenging at times, it was beautifully written, and the story was intriguing and unpredictable. Unlike anything I’ve read before, it’s a unique way of exploring love and the meaning of life. For anyone who enjoys a love story wrapped in philosophy, literature and Shakespeare. The review is based on the receipt of an advanced reader copy.

[Sheridan Dillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iago’s Penumbra is a fascinating read. The story is reminiscent of a modern Madeleine L'engle, with its rich characters and multilayered understanding of the universe. I’m looking forward to reading this author’s next book!

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very strange book, but that's exactly what I was hoping for.