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Perchance to Dream: Classic Tales from the Bard's World in New Skins
Romeo and Juliet. Hamlet. Macbeth. Everyone has heard their names. Everyone knows their stories. But you've never seen them like this.
In this collection, some of the hottest names in YA today reimagine ten of Shakespeare's best-known plays and sonnets for a new audience. From sci-fi adventures on distant moons to modern magic found in everyday places, these updated myths pay homage to the Bard's timeless storytelling while spinning fresh and original tales that will captivate readers all over again.
In this collection, some of the hottest names in YA today reimagine ten of Shakespeare's best-known plays and sonnets for a new audience. From sci-fi adventures on distant moons to modern magic found in everyday places, these updated myths pay homage to the Bard's timeless storytelling while spinning fresh and original tales that will captivate readers all over again.
462 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
About the author
Lyssa Chiavari
21 books87 followersLyssa Chiavari is an author of speculative fiction for young adults, including Fourth World, the first book in a sci-fi trilogy set on Mars, and Cheerleaders From Planet X, a tongue-in-cheek send-up of all things sci-fi. Her short fiction has appeared in Wings of Renewal: A Solarpunk Dragon Anthology, Brave New Girls: Tales of Heroines Who Hack, Magic at Midnight: A YA Fairytale Anthology and Perchance to Dream: Classic Tales from the Bard’s World in New Skins. Her first published story, “The Choice,” was named one of Ama-gi Magazine’s Best of 2014. Lyssa lives with her family and way too many animals in the woods of Northwest Oregon.
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October 13, 2017I had a lot of fun working with the other authors on this collection, and I hope that you will enjoy reading the stories as much as we enjoyed writing them! Here's a look inside the stories, for those of you who would like to know more:
"Rosemary for Remembrance," an adaptation of Hamlet, by Jess R. Sutton
Mel is a good student, a mediocre painter, and an excellent brewer of magical potions. When she is sixteen, her mother dies. All signs point to suicide, but Mel, refusing to believe that her mother would leave her, suspects foul play. When her closest relative, Aunt Clara, comes to live with her, Mel begins to blame Clara for the death, citing reasons from sibling rivalry to elaborate plots involving old secrets and illegal magic. As her obsession with revenge increasingly consumes her life, interfering with her schoolwork and driving a wedge between her and her girlfriend, Mel must learn to find herself again in the aftermath of tragedy, or else be destroyed by it.
"Shoulders of Giants," an adaptation of Titus Andronicus, by Jon Garett & Richard Walsh, authors of the Seamus Tripp series
In the near future, two geopolitical rivals vie for power. The forefront of this war is not any battlefield — it's their military research labs. As far as the generalissimos and politicos are concerned, their states have always been at war. Now only mutually assured destruction can guarantee peace... At the forefront of this dark, young adult satire are Bridget Bellweather, a research assistant for the nation of Basland, and Hank Hazlet, a soldier in East Albion: two of the brightest young minds of each nation, put to work developing weapons of increasing absurdity and lethality, and demonstrating how, when patriotism subverts reason, it can corrupt even the best of us.
"Lisbeth," an adaptation of Macbeth, by Selenia Paz, 2012 Honor winner of Lee & Low Publishing's New Voices award
When Lisbeth is ten years old, she visits the Día de los Muertos festival with her best friend Bianca. There, the two wander into the Tres Hermanas tent and encounter three fortune-telling sisters who speak in riddles of Lisbeth and Bianca's future — a future full of promise, but one that will cost them dearly. Unsure of the fortune's meaning, Lisbeth soon forgets more than just the Sisters' words. As Lisbeth's prospects improve, her ambitions blind her to the damage and hurt she is inflicting, and she fails to see the full promise of a fortune beginning to come true.
"A Midwinter Night's Brainwashing," an adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, by Allan Davis
Robin Goodfellow "Tuck" Tucker has a crush on the most unattainable girl in the school. Heather has never given anyone her number, and she definitely wouldn't start with Tuck, a.k.a. the school's resident Science Geek. But Tuck has a plan — one involving the secret government facility he interns at, and a TOP secret virtual reality project that may just happen to have mind-control subroutines programmed into it. What could possibly go wrong?
"Mark Corey," an adaptation of Coriolanus, by Patricia Scott, author of "The Stars Were Stolen"
Mark Corey is a star baseball player, a gifted pitcher, and a hero on the field, celebrated by the town where he lives. It's only natural for him to run for student body president next — now he'll be able to make some real changes at school, like creating "nerd-free" zones. The only problem is, not everyone sees it that way. Before long, Mark has alienated his classmates and the school faculty alike. It's a dangerous game, and one that could, ultimately, cost Mark everything.
"Angel & Demon," an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, by Heather Dixon, author of Entwined and Illusionarium
Rubix is a demon, one of the best. His only job is to corrupt humans and turn them to the side of Evil. It's not too difficult, considering how corruptible humans can be; but everything changes when he's assigned to work against an angel named Julianne. Julianne believes that everybody has the potential for good in them — even a demon like Rubix. Falling for an angel and confronted by a morality he didn't even know he had, Rubix is forced to choose which side he really wants to serve. The only problem is, if he chooses Good, it will mean the end of everything he's ever known. There are no happily-ever-afters in Hell.
"Onyx," an adaptation of Othello, by Alicia Michaels, bestselling author of The Bionics series and The Lost Kingdom of Fallada series
A millennium into the future, the world as we know it no longer exists. The Earth has been destroyed, and the humans that remain have expanded into the galaxy, living on space stations and colonies on new worlds—including some that already hosted life when humans arrived. From one of these species of humanoid aliens comes Onyx, who was captured by Earth’s military after a war with his people, the Ethelene, left his planet decimated. Against all odds, the teenage Onyx makes a life for himself, gaining honor and prestige in the military, and falls in love with Dia Tian, the daughter of an Earth colonel. But not everyone is happy about Onyx's success. Isaias Royce, Onyx's ensign, begins whispering secrets of Dia’s infidelity into his ear. But is Isaias truly looking out for Onyx’s best interest? Or is he acting out of jealousy because Onyx chose another man to be promoted instead of him? When the web of lies, truths, and half-truths begin to engulf Onyx, he finds himself unable to discern who his real friends and enemies are... which could lead to him making one of the biggest mistakes of his life.
"The Taming of the Dudebro," an adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew, by Jane Watson
Patricia's dream is coming true: she is directing her own play, a one-act written by her best friend, Grizz, for the school's annual Drama Festival. Everything seems to be perfect until her teacher assigns Kurt Minola, the biggest jerk in the school, to work on her play. Kurt is lazy, selfish and irresponsible. His presence turns Patricia's dream into a nightmare — until Patricia and Grizz decide to take matters into their own hands, and subject this insufferable surfer-dude to some taming.
"Star Walker," an adaptation of Hamlet, by Alex Irwin
Letta always thought she would follow in her mother's footsteps to become the next captain of the Elsinore, a generational ship due to soon land on New Earth. But when Captain Hamilton dies under suspicious circumstances, Letta is shocked and enraged to discover that her mother's sister, Claudia, has been chosen to succeed her instead. Letta embarks on her own investigation into her mother's death, and soon discovers a trail of deception and danger. But she has to be careful, because someone has been tampering with the ship's nutritional vaccinations — and if she doesn't unravel the mystery soon, more people will die...
"The Desperate Warrior and the Beast Who Walks Without Sound," an adaptation of Sonnet 25, by T. Damon, author of The Forest Spirit series
Wakiza is the most revered hunter and warrior in the Thunder tribe. He is beloved by his people and has his pick of any of the chief's daughters to be his bride. But Wakiza is in love with another — Aiyana, daughter of the chief of the Sun tribe, Wakiza's people's sworn enemy. Wakiza's only hope to end the war and unite with Aiyana lies in defeating Kajika, the Beast Who Walks Without Sound. Wakiza is doubtful of Kajika's existence; but even if the legendary Beast exists, what hope does Wakiza have of defeating a monster whose slightest glance will turn anyone to stone?
"Gale," an adaptation of The Tempest, by Lyssa Chiavari, author of the Iamos Trilogy
Miranda doesn't want to be different. On Gale, being different can get you killed. The Brotherhood demands equality for all its citizens, and any trait that makes an individual stand out from the crowd is immediately eliminated by the Watch. When her seizures began, Miranda's parents tried to keep her abnormality hidden and seek treatment under the table, without attracting the attention of the Brotherhood. But then the visions started — ominous hallucinations of strange lights in the sky, an otherworldly monster with wings like a dragon, and a girl who appeared from the clouds like a bolt of lightning. Despite the ever-present threat of the Watch, Miranda is determined to find out what the visions mean. Little does she know that the answers might lead her to freedom.
"Rosemary for Remembrance," an adaptation of Hamlet, by Jess R. Sutton
Mel is a good student, a mediocre painter, and an excellent brewer of magical potions. When she is sixteen, her mother dies. All signs point to suicide, but Mel, refusing to believe that her mother would leave her, suspects foul play. When her closest relative, Aunt Clara, comes to live with her, Mel begins to blame Clara for the death, citing reasons from sibling rivalry to elaborate plots involving old secrets and illegal magic. As her obsession with revenge increasingly consumes her life, interfering with her schoolwork and driving a wedge between her and her girlfriend, Mel must learn to find herself again in the aftermath of tragedy, or else be destroyed by it.
"Shoulders of Giants," an adaptation of Titus Andronicus, by Jon Garett & Richard Walsh, authors of the Seamus Tripp series
In the near future, two geopolitical rivals vie for power. The forefront of this war is not any battlefield — it's their military research labs. As far as the generalissimos and politicos are concerned, their states have always been at war. Now only mutually assured destruction can guarantee peace... At the forefront of this dark, young adult satire are Bridget Bellweather, a research assistant for the nation of Basland, and Hank Hazlet, a soldier in East Albion: two of the brightest young minds of each nation, put to work developing weapons of increasing absurdity and lethality, and demonstrating how, when patriotism subverts reason, it can corrupt even the best of us.
"Lisbeth," an adaptation of Macbeth, by Selenia Paz, 2012 Honor winner of Lee & Low Publishing's New Voices award
When Lisbeth is ten years old, she visits the Día de los Muertos festival with her best friend Bianca. There, the two wander into the Tres Hermanas tent and encounter three fortune-telling sisters who speak in riddles of Lisbeth and Bianca's future — a future full of promise, but one that will cost them dearly. Unsure of the fortune's meaning, Lisbeth soon forgets more than just the Sisters' words. As Lisbeth's prospects improve, her ambitions blind her to the damage and hurt she is inflicting, and she fails to see the full promise of a fortune beginning to come true.
"A Midwinter Night's Brainwashing," an adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, by Allan Davis
Robin Goodfellow "Tuck" Tucker has a crush on the most unattainable girl in the school. Heather has never given anyone her number, and she definitely wouldn't start with Tuck, a.k.a. the school's resident Science Geek. But Tuck has a plan — one involving the secret government facility he interns at, and a TOP secret virtual reality project that may just happen to have mind-control subroutines programmed into it. What could possibly go wrong?
"Mark Corey," an adaptation of Coriolanus, by Patricia Scott, author of "The Stars Were Stolen"
Mark Corey is a star baseball player, a gifted pitcher, and a hero on the field, celebrated by the town where he lives. It's only natural for him to run for student body president next — now he'll be able to make some real changes at school, like creating "nerd-free" zones. The only problem is, not everyone sees it that way. Before long, Mark has alienated his classmates and the school faculty alike. It's a dangerous game, and one that could, ultimately, cost Mark everything.
"Angel & Demon," an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, by Heather Dixon, author of Entwined and Illusionarium
Rubix is a demon, one of the best. His only job is to corrupt humans and turn them to the side of Evil. It's not too difficult, considering how corruptible humans can be; but everything changes when he's assigned to work against an angel named Julianne. Julianne believes that everybody has the potential for good in them — even a demon like Rubix. Falling for an angel and confronted by a morality he didn't even know he had, Rubix is forced to choose which side he really wants to serve. The only problem is, if he chooses Good, it will mean the end of everything he's ever known. There are no happily-ever-afters in Hell.
"Onyx," an adaptation of Othello, by Alicia Michaels, bestselling author of The Bionics series and The Lost Kingdom of Fallada series
A millennium into the future, the world as we know it no longer exists. The Earth has been destroyed, and the humans that remain have expanded into the galaxy, living on space stations and colonies on new worlds—including some that already hosted life when humans arrived. From one of these species of humanoid aliens comes Onyx, who was captured by Earth’s military after a war with his people, the Ethelene, left his planet decimated. Against all odds, the teenage Onyx makes a life for himself, gaining honor and prestige in the military, and falls in love with Dia Tian, the daughter of an Earth colonel. But not everyone is happy about Onyx's success. Isaias Royce, Onyx's ensign, begins whispering secrets of Dia’s infidelity into his ear. But is Isaias truly looking out for Onyx’s best interest? Or is he acting out of jealousy because Onyx chose another man to be promoted instead of him? When the web of lies, truths, and half-truths begin to engulf Onyx, he finds himself unable to discern who his real friends and enemies are... which could lead to him making one of the biggest mistakes of his life.
"The Taming of the Dudebro," an adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew, by Jane Watson
Patricia's dream is coming true: she is directing her own play, a one-act written by her best friend, Grizz, for the school's annual Drama Festival. Everything seems to be perfect until her teacher assigns Kurt Minola, the biggest jerk in the school, to work on her play. Kurt is lazy, selfish and irresponsible. His presence turns Patricia's dream into a nightmare — until Patricia and Grizz decide to take matters into their own hands, and subject this insufferable surfer-dude to some taming.
"Star Walker," an adaptation of Hamlet, by Alex Irwin
Letta always thought she would follow in her mother's footsteps to become the next captain of the Elsinore, a generational ship due to soon land on New Earth. But when Captain Hamilton dies under suspicious circumstances, Letta is shocked and enraged to discover that her mother's sister, Claudia, has been chosen to succeed her instead. Letta embarks on her own investigation into her mother's death, and soon discovers a trail of deception and danger. But she has to be careful, because someone has been tampering with the ship's nutritional vaccinations — and if she doesn't unravel the mystery soon, more people will die...
"The Desperate Warrior and the Beast Who Walks Without Sound," an adaptation of Sonnet 25, by T. Damon, author of The Forest Spirit series
Wakiza is the most revered hunter and warrior in the Thunder tribe. He is beloved by his people and has his pick of any of the chief's daughters to be his bride. But Wakiza is in love with another — Aiyana, daughter of the chief of the Sun tribe, Wakiza's people's sworn enemy. Wakiza's only hope to end the war and unite with Aiyana lies in defeating Kajika, the Beast Who Walks Without Sound. Wakiza is doubtful of Kajika's existence; but even if the legendary Beast exists, what hope does Wakiza have of defeating a monster whose slightest glance will turn anyone to stone?
"Gale," an adaptation of The Tempest, by Lyssa Chiavari, author of the Iamos Trilogy
Miranda doesn't want to be different. On Gale, being different can get you killed. The Brotherhood demands equality for all its citizens, and any trait that makes an individual stand out from the crowd is immediately eliminated by the Watch. When her seizures began, Miranda's parents tried to keep her abnormality hidden and seek treatment under the table, without attracting the attention of the Brotherhood. But then the visions started — ominous hallucinations of strange lights in the sky, an otherworldly monster with wings like a dragon, and a girl who appeared from the clouds like a bolt of lightning. Despite the ever-present threat of the Watch, Miranda is determined to find out what the visions mean. Little does she know that the answers might lead her to freedom.
December 27, 2017
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
If you are a fan of Shakespeare and short stories, this is a book for you. First, yes, I think you need to know a little about the Shakespeare plays and sonnets, and maybe that is one of the reasons why I struggled with some of the stories. But there were others I didn’t know and I really enjoyed reading and they made me want to read or watch the play - for example: Othello.
My favorites stories were:
“Angel and Demon” by Heather Dixon: A retelling of Romeo (Demon) and Juliette (Angel). I really liked the idea of how their story develops during different times in human life, how their character's relationship grows as you advance in the story, and how it didn’t feel like you're reading the exact same story.
“Onix” by Alicia Michaels: Othello, this is one of the stories I didn’t know much about and I really enjoyed it. I enjoy stories with drama, plotting, treasons and romance and this one gave me all that. Plus it was sci-fi so even better.
“The taming of the Dudebro” by Jane Watson: The Taming of the Shrew. This one was really fun to read. I liked almost all the characters (I couldn’t handle Kurt, I wanted to punch him so bad) and the story flows well and was funny, making it easy to read.
“A Midwinter Night’s Brainwashing” by Allan Davis: A Midsummer Night’s Dream is my favorite play by Shakespeare, and I wished this retelling wasn’t as short as it is. It didn’t feel like reading the same story even when you know it is in it. The whole idea of putting it in the context of a laboratory, messing with people's minds and seeing everything is going the wrong way was very entertaining.
With the other stories, I couldn’t get into them even when they were well written. I didn’t feel any emotional connection with them. Sometimes they were too predictable and I felt as if reading exactly the same story.
I didn’t like that Hamlet appeared twice in this book. Every time I was going to start a new story I wanted something different and finding this one twice I felt like I didn’t want to read it (because I already did).
If you are a fan of Shakespeare and short stories, this is a book for you. First, yes, I think you need to know a little about the Shakespeare plays and sonnets, and maybe that is one of the reasons why I struggled with some of the stories. But there were others I didn’t know and I really enjoyed reading and they made me want to read or watch the play - for example: Othello.
My favorites stories were:
“Angel and Demon” by Heather Dixon: A retelling of Romeo (Demon) and Juliette (Angel). I really liked the idea of how their story develops during different times in human life, how their character's relationship grows as you advance in the story, and how it didn’t feel like you're reading the exact same story.
“Onix” by Alicia Michaels: Othello, this is one of the stories I didn’t know much about and I really enjoyed it. I enjoy stories with drama, plotting, treasons and romance and this one gave me all that. Plus it was sci-fi so even better.
“The taming of the Dudebro” by Jane Watson: The Taming of the Shrew. This one was really fun to read. I liked almost all the characters (I couldn’t handle Kurt, I wanted to punch him so bad) and the story flows well and was funny, making it easy to read.
“A Midwinter Night’s Brainwashing” by Allan Davis: A Midsummer Night’s Dream is my favorite play by Shakespeare, and I wished this retelling wasn’t as short as it is. It didn’t feel like reading the same story even when you know it is in it. The whole idea of putting it in the context of a laboratory, messing with people's minds and seeing everything is going the wrong way was very entertaining.
With the other stories, I couldn’t get into them even when they were well written. I didn’t feel any emotional connection with them. Sometimes they were too predictable and I felt as if reading exactly the same story.
I didn’t like that Hamlet appeared twice in this book. Every time I was going to start a new story I wanted something different and finding this one twice I felt like I didn’t want to read it (because I already did).
October 11, 2017
I love that all the stories in this anthology were inspired by ideas from Shakespeare's plays and sonnets, with an excerpt from the originals showing the inspiration for each story at its beginning. It was a fun read, and as with all anthologies I enjoyed some stories more than others, although each was unique and well-thought out. I give the anthology overall 4 stars, and will rate the individual stories below.
Rosemary for Remembrance was sad with a hint of Hamlet flair. - 4 stars
Shoulders of Giants had me laughing out loud even though it doesn't end well (as none of Shakespeare's tragedies did). - 3 stars
Lisbeth was a favorite with its atmosphere. - 4 stars
A Midwinter Night's Brainwashing just wasn't long enough for me; I wanted more to get to know the characters better! - 2 stars
Mark Corey is a braggart who gets knocked down a few pegs. - 3 stars
Angel & Demon was another favorite with its storyline and characters. The timeline in the plot was hard to understand at first, but I would love for it to be a longer story. - 5 stars
Onyx had me laughing with dread (it's a thing!) when I remembered what happens in the original Shakespeare tragedy. It's pretty brutal. - 5 stars
The Taming of the Dudebro was a great gender-bent twist on The Taming of the Shrew. - 4 stars
Star Walker is a great space/sci-fi twist on Hamlet. Man these authors really love Hamlet! - 5 stars
The Desperate Warrior and the Beast Who Walks Without Sound reminds me of some of my favorite Native American folklore stories. - 4 stars
Gale is another favorite. I had never heard of Lyssa Chiavari before this, but now I want to read all of her work! This was such a great dystopian-type society with magic (for lack of a better word) and friendship and family and all the things!! - 5 stars
I highly recommend this to anyone who likes Shakespeare and retellings, because these are pretty brilliant.
Rosemary for Remembrance was sad with a hint of Hamlet flair. - 4 stars
Shoulders of Giants had me laughing out loud even though it doesn't end well (as none of Shakespeare's tragedies did). - 3 stars
Lisbeth was a favorite with its atmosphere. - 4 stars
A Midwinter Night's Brainwashing just wasn't long enough for me; I wanted more to get to know the characters better! - 2 stars
Mark Corey is a braggart who gets knocked down a few pegs. - 3 stars
Angel & Demon was another favorite with its storyline and characters. The timeline in the plot was hard to understand at first, but I would love for it to be a longer story. - 5 stars
Onyx had me laughing with dread (it's a thing!) when I remembered what happens in the original Shakespeare tragedy. It's pretty brutal. - 5 stars
The Taming of the Dudebro was a great gender-bent twist on The Taming of the Shrew. - 4 stars
Star Walker is a great space/sci-fi twist on Hamlet. Man these authors really love Hamlet! - 5 stars
The Desperate Warrior and the Beast Who Walks Without Sound reminds me of some of my favorite Native American folklore stories. - 4 stars
Gale is another favorite. I had never heard of Lyssa Chiavari before this, but now I want to read all of her work! This was such a great dystopian-type society with magic (for lack of a better word) and friendship and family and all the things!! - 5 stars
I highly recommend this to anyone who likes Shakespeare and retellings, because these are pretty brilliant.
October 2, 2017
I was lucky enough to receive a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is a wonderful collection of retellings of Shakespeare's works. I'm very hit or miss on Shakespeare but this collection reeled me and brought the stories to life in a whole new way. The modern twists on these stories are magnificently done. This would be a great read for anyone who's interested in Shakespeare but has a hard time connecting with the writing. Also fans of the traditional works would enjoy the updated versions as well. This is also great for people who don't want to commit to a whole book, you can pick and chose your story and read at your convenience. My personal favorite story was Angel & Demon which was a delightful twist on Romeo & Juliet.
This is a wonderful collection of retellings of Shakespeare's works. I'm very hit or miss on Shakespeare but this collection reeled me and brought the stories to life in a whole new way. The modern twists on these stories are magnificently done. This would be a great read for anyone who's interested in Shakespeare but has a hard time connecting with the writing. Also fans of the traditional works would enjoy the updated versions as well. This is also great for people who don't want to commit to a whole book, you can pick and chose your story and read at your convenience. My personal favorite story was Angel & Demon which was a delightful twist on Romeo & Juliet.
December 4, 2017
I am new to the anthology and short story world, but this was a great way to start. All the stories were so good and interesting that you either felt the connection to the characters or like you were there. Some of the stories I wish would turn into more since they were sooooo good. I would definitely recommend this book!
October 28, 2017
MY review will be up soon.
October 14, 2016
I made a mistake with this book. I tried to read it on my cell phone, knowing full well that I rarely ever read things on my phone. Don't ask me why. I really don't know. But I think that this decision has soured me on this book a little. Add in that I'm not a huge short story person (although I am trying to get better at them!), and that I wasn't familiar with about half of the original Shakespeare plays that some of these stories were based on, and I probably do this book a disservice. I just felt like some of the stories were too referential for me, and didn't quite stand on their own. Which, given that it's an anthology of stories based on Shakespeare, that's probably not a requirement. But my ignorance hindered me in enjoying those stories.
My favorite two stories in here were "Angel and Demon" and "Gale." The first is a Romeo and Juliet retelling, and I was surprised by the depth of emotion that it gave to this story. Romeo and Juliet is such a popular cultural phenomenon that it should have lost all its zing by now, but it definitely hasn't in this story. And although I liked "Angel and Demon" a lot, it didn't hold a candle to "Gale", which I loved. Even in a short story, the setting is vividly imagined, the characters are deeply empathetic, and the story is great. I am only vaguely familiar with The Tempest, which this is based off, but my lack of knowledge didn't hinder my enjoyment at all here. Five stars to that one.
The other stories were well-written, but they just didn't have the same emotional impact for me. Still, for a short story fan, the story might be very different. Also, you know, one who doesn't try to read books in five minute snippets over a span of a year and a half. I promise, I will not be doing that again. I just wish I had let myself experience this book as it should have been experienced, rather than the way that I did.
My favorite two stories in here were "Angel and Demon" and "Gale." The first is a Romeo and Juliet retelling, and I was surprised by the depth of emotion that it gave to this story. Romeo and Juliet is such a popular cultural phenomenon that it should have lost all its zing by now, but it definitely hasn't in this story. And although I liked "Angel and Demon" a lot, it didn't hold a candle to "Gale", which I loved. Even in a short story, the setting is vividly imagined, the characters are deeply empathetic, and the story is great. I am only vaguely familiar with The Tempest, which this is based off, but my lack of knowledge didn't hinder my enjoyment at all here. Five stars to that one.
The other stories were well-written, but they just didn't have the same emotional impact for me. Still, for a short story fan, the story might be very different. Also, you know, one who doesn't try to read books in five minute snippets over a span of a year and a half. I promise, I will not be doing that again. I just wish I had let myself experience this book as it should have been experienced, rather than the way that I did.
August 5, 2015
Full disclosure: I am friends with the editor of this book. I do not know any of the other authors.
That said - I loved EVERY story in here. I am quite a fan of Shakespeare, science fiction, and fantasy - and this collection of tales had everything I could want in it. Some were heart-wrenching, others hilarious, and all were excellent. I truly cannot recommend it highly enough!
That said - I loved EVERY story in here. I am quite a fan of Shakespeare, science fiction, and fantasy - and this collection of tales had everything I could want in it. Some were heart-wrenching, others hilarious, and all were excellent. I truly cannot recommend it highly enough!
November 30, 2017
Disclaimer: I was provided a free e-book copy of this anthology in exchange for reviewing it; however, I was not obligated to give a favourable review.
This anthology was very interesting to me. I've always been a theatre nerd, and I've loved Shakespeare's plays since I was first forced able to read one in the ninth grade (the first one I read was The Merchant of Venice, if anyone is curious). When I saw this book available for review, I was intrigued and excited to read it. It took me a lot longer to read and write this review than I anticipated; the book is over 1000 pages altogether (although I did read it on my iPhone through iBooks, so it may be fewer pages on a larger screen). Don't let that scare you away, though; most of the stories range under 200 pages, many of them under 100. They're all quick, fascinating reads and really adapt Shakespeare's classic plays (and a sonnet!) into wonderful, relatable stories. Even if you don't like Shakespeare, give this book a try; it's excellent!
Averaging my ratings of the individual stories in this anthology (reviewed below in as spoiler-free of a way as I could), I give this anthology 4/5 stars!
"Rosemary for Remembrance", a Hamlet adaptation by Jess R. Sutton
"Rosemary for Remembrance" brings the classic plot line of Hamlet to a modern world, with a magical twist. The story follows 16-year-old Mel in the aftermath of her mother Rosemary's apparent suicide. Mel's aunt and uncle move into the house she shared with her mother, and Mel is convinced she's seen her mother's ghost telling her that her Aunt Clara murdered her. Mel's obsession with proving this drives wedges into her relationships and threatens to derail her life.
I love Hamlet; one of my fondest memories is reading it in my twelfth grade English class - is that weird? Probably. But this story has all the things you expect from Hamlet, set in a modern-feeling society that just so happens to have magic. The way magic is incorporated into the story and the setting is masterful; Sutton weaves it seamlessly into everyday life. Protagonist Mel works for an art studio where kids come after school to use kinetic paints that bring art to life on the page, and in the back of the studio she brews potions to do things like increase energy, and, quite notable in the plot, a new, untested potion to reduce the physical symptoms of grief.
One of the things I loved the most about this story is how Sutton incorporates Hamlet's breakdown in the play into Mel's character. It's not quite as extreme as Hamlet's in the play, nor does it have quite the same disastrous results (although having two characters in a modern day setting just whip out swords for a duel would be hilarious - just me? Okay.). But I enjoyed it nonetheless. The characters aren't quite as developed as I think they could become in a longer work, but that's to be expected in a story of this length. There also isn't a character in this story to match up with every character in Hamlet, because if there were, my goodness this would be a crowded short story. It's fairly obvious who some characters stand in for, and others who could be different characters or multiple rolled into one. I won't speak to that, because I think that removes some of the fun of reading the story itself.
Overall, I give this story 4/5 stars!
"Shoulders of Giants", a Titus Andronicus adaptation by Jon Garett and Richard Walsh
"Shoulders of Giants" sets the plot of Titus Andronicus to a futuristic, possibly alien (I wasn't sure if it was meant to be an alien world or just a futuristic version of earth, but perhaps I didn't pick up on something) world. The main characters are two brilliant young people from the rival nations of Basland and East Albion; Bridget and Hank, a scientist and a soldier.
I will admit, I've never read Titus Andronicus, but I did read the SparkNotes (I'm sorry, I know, I hated the kids who did that in high school too, but I haven't had the time to get my hands on a copy of the play a read it yet, so I'll have to do that when I get the chance. I loved the nod to the title of the play in the names of the mech-suits the rival nations create near the end of the story, though.
Let me just say: this is a massively toned-down version of the plot; it keeps the basic "cycle of revenge" plot with significantly mellowed violence. The revenge is mostly between the two nations rather than between two people, which makes the plot very interesting but makes it difficult to identify characters from the book specifically as characters from the play. I did find it very interesting how Bridget and Hank are both, to me at least, helpless in the hands of their respective nations, but think themselves independent. I can't say much more without spoiling, but the ending I found kept the spirit of the original play but commuted it wonderfully to the world Garett and Walsh chose for their story.
3.5/5 stars for this one!
"Lisbeth", a Macbeth adaptation by Selenia Paz
"Lisbeth" adapts the plot of Macbeth to a modern world. The story follows Lisbeth and Bianca, two young Mexican girls. On the Dia de los Muertos when they're 10 years old, they go into a tent at the cemetery and meet three fortune-tellers, who give them a prophecy that they will do great things. As they get older, Lisbeth remains obsessed with finding out the end of the prophecy; she glimpsed it on the scroll but could not read it. The girls' grandparents send them to live in America with Lisbeth's aunt, Lenna, and the girls work hard to become the best they can be in their classes. They both are accepted for a prestigious program that will send them into space as part of Operation Hecate.
May I first say: I am a massive Macbeth nerd. Is that a weird sentence? Probably. I still have trouble forcing myself to say the word Macbeth, because of the curse (short version: don't say Macbeth in a theatre unless you're saying dialogue from the play, or else something bad will happen. If you mess up, go outside as fast as you can, spin around 3 times and spit. I say go outside because don't spit in a theatre, that's nasty.) I was in a production of Macbeth in grade 10 - maybe I'll do a blog post on it sometime, it was a good time. The curse is totally real, though, that's all I'm gonna say right now. But I digress. I absolutely loved how Paz adapted the plot of the play to her characters and setting. The ending is wonderfully done; I found the entire story to be done very well. It was a riveting read overall, and the characters were well-written as well. This was one of my favourite stories in the anthology.
5/5 stars!
"A Midsummer Night's Brainwashing", a Midsummer Night's Dream adaptation by Allan Davis
"A Midsummer Night's Brainwashing" brings the basic idea of A Midsummer Night's Dream to a world where complex virtual reality simulations are a, well, a reality. The plot follows Robin Goodfellow Tucker, or Tuck, as he's called by friends, in his quest to make his crush, Heather, love him by giving her a love potion in the simulation.
If you know A Midsummer Night's Dream, you can probably guess how well that goes. The answer: it doesn't. Tuck manages to make two of his friends fall in love, though. I found this story kept the spirit of the original play, and it was a very short and quick read. I feel like it could have been expanded on more, however; I enjoyed it, but I would've liked some more context as to the nature of the internship that lets Tuck access the simulations, which apparently are owned by the government and allow some kind of mind-control. I like the ending where it was, but the 180 Tuck seems to pull confused me, although again it's possible I missed something critical. I think this story was good as-is, but it definitely would have had potential to grow into something more.
3/5 stars!
"Mark Corey", a Coriolanus adaptation by Patricia Scott
Mark Corey adapts the plot of Coriolanus to a modern day world, and makes it much more accessible to a modern audience. The main character, Mark Corey, is a high school senior obsessed with baseball. He lives, eats, and breathes the sport, in his own words. His only goal in life is to play baseball at the college level, and then move on to become professional. He knows everything about every team in the area, and strategizes his pitches to invariably defeat them all.
Coriolanus is another of Shakespeare's plays I haven't yet had the chance to read, but from what I understand about the play, this story brings the essence of the plot to a modern world and context almost effortlessly. Mark reads as a cocky - perhaps overly so - teenager, and although the ending is obvious nearly from the beginning, the writing keeps the reader from losing interest. I greatly enjoyed the parallels to the play, as well as the way Scott makes it much more relatable and modernizes it well.
4.5/5 stars!
"Angel and Demon", a Romeo and Juliet adaptation by Heather Dixon
Angel and Demon adapts the star-crossed lovers plot of Romeo and Juliet to a fascinating world where angels and demons are sent on missions by Heaven and Hell, respectively. The story jumps between places and time periods as the angel Julianne and the demon Rubix compete against one another to save or condemn people.
Romeo and Juliet is one of the most, not over-done, but the most commonly done plots out there. I'm not saying that's a bad thing; the tale of star-crossed lovers is so prevalent in literature and film that I doubt anyone could trace it back to where it started. This rendition of the plot, however, was one of the freshest and most inventive I've ever encountered, and I loved it. I devoured the story in one sitting; the historical aspects of it were fascinating to me, as was Dixon's depiction of the main characters. The ending, as well, was touching. It's a very feel-good story, rather in contrast to the original Romeo and Juliet.
5/5 stars!
"Onyx", an Othello adaptation by Alicia Michaels
Onyx takes the tragedy of Othello, and puts it into space. That's the simplest way to explain it, but this story is so much more. It is set in a post-apocalyptic future, where humanity's population has dwindled to around a million people, all of whom live on space stations after the destruction of Earth. The space stations are under constant attack by hostile alien species. Onyx himself is an alien, an Ethellien, and the last of his kind. He's married to Dia Tian, the daughter of a colonel aboard the station, and faces discrimination due to his alien heritage.
The story more or less follows the basic plot of Othello, but slightly shortened and tweaked to fit the world Michaels has created. Othello is another one of my favourite Shakespearean plays, and I think this story really did it justice. The characters stayed true to their inspirations, but still came across as believable and real for a modern/futuristic setting.
5/5 stars!
"The Taming of the Dudebro", a The Taming of the Shrew adaptation by Jane Watson
"The Taming of the Dudebro" brings the plot of The Taming of the Shrew to a relatable modern setting, and honestly it's a really funny story. I haven't read The Taming of the Shrew yet, but I understand the basic plot, and I think this story did it justice. Main character Patricia and her best friend Grizz are putting on a play Grizz wrote for a student festival, and their teacher assigns "surfer-boy" Kurt to their group, to save his grades and his chances at college and playing water polo.
The story follows the basic plot of the play, but updates it for a modern setting and the concerns that a high-school senior would have. Part of the reason why I loved this story so much is because I was very much one of the "theatre kids" in high school, and it drove me crazy when people who didn't care about the plays got roles just to fulfill the "Creativity" hours we needed for the International Baccalaureate program (not that I'm still bitter, or anything). Between that and being the one everyone wanted to be paired up with in group projects (because I would do everything myself to avoid a poor grade, if my group members refused to work), I found this story very relatable. I wish that those situations had ended as well for me as they did for Patricia and Grizz, but hey, I survived anyway.
This story was humorous and light-hearted, and, to me, very relatable.
5/5 stars!
"Star Walker", a Hamlet adaptation by Alex Irwin
"Star Walker" brings the plot of Hamlet to a futuristic world where humanity lives on space stations. The story begins with the funeral of the main character Letta's mother. Letta's mother was the captain of the ship, and Letta assumes she will take over from her mother. Her aunt, Claudia, is selected instead. Letta is devastated, and she becomes convinced that Claudia murdered her mother.
Like I've said before, I'm a sucker for anything related to Hamlet. This story was one of the most creative adaptations I've ever seen of the story, and I especially liked how Irwin adapted the "play" scene from the play where Hamlet tries to expose his uncle as a murderer; in this case, the way Letta tries to expose her aunt. It's one of the harder scenes to adapt, I would think, because it's a scene that needs to keep a certain spirit but without being a carbon copy of the original scene from the play.
The ending itself is also heart-wrenching, and it keeps the dark themes from the play, which I find a lot of people who adapt the story for different characters and setting tend to shy away from.
5/5 stars!
"The Desperate Warrior and the Beast Who Walks Without Sound", a Sonnet 25 adaptation by T. Damon
"The Desperate Warrior and the Beast Who Walks Without Sound" draws inspiration from Shakespeare's Sonnet 25 and adapts it into an incredible short story. I honestly have no idea how Damon would have developed this entire rich world from just the few lines of that sonnet, and I am absolutely in awe. This story was incredible. I never would have thought to adapt a Shakespearean sonnet into the short story, and while I can definitely see how it inspired this story, I find it mind-boggling that such a short, vague poem could inspire something like this.
The main character, Wakisa, is a member of the Thunder tribe that have long been at war with the Sun tribe. His name translates to "desperate warrior" - that was a feature I loved about this story; all the characters had meanings to their names that often foreshadowed their role. He is charged with the mission to kill the "Beast that Walks Without Sound". That's about all I can say without spoiling, but I absolutely adored this story.
Honestly, I would definitely read a novel that was set in this world. The story itself is perfect as-is; it has a lovely plot that ties up neatly and gives a satisfying ending. There is more I would love to know about the world; backstory, where "the Beast" came from, even what happens to Wakiza after the story. I think it's definitely something that could be expanded wonderfully, but it's also excellent as-is without anymore expansion.
5/5 stars!
"Gale", a Tempest adaptation by Lyssa Chiavari
"Gale" draws ideas from Shakespeare's The Tempest and adapts them to an incredible fantasy world. Gale is the name of a small planet, the moon of a larger planet called Orbe that supposedly houses monsters and gods that "The Brotherhood", the rulers of Gale, banished in the past, but which wish to retake Gale and threaten the lives of everyone. "The Brotherhood" watches the people through the aptly-named "Watch", which monitors everyone for conformity. Main character Miranda has fits, which frightens her parents as it is not an ailment the Healers find treatable, so if they are discovered Miranda could be killed. Miranda then begins having visions of a girl named Ferda, and discovers a deep secret in herself, her family, and Gale itself.
This story was hugely inventive. I loved the world and the concept, and I especially loved the nods to the original play, both in the names and in some of the events of the story. I read The Tempest in the tenth grade, and this brought a pleasant sort of nostalgia with it. I was immediately drawn in by the world building and by the first-person voice of Miranda, and I finished the story in one sitting.
"Gale" is a wonderful, inventive adaptation of The Tempest; it holds enough of a resemblance to the play to invoke that kind of nostalgic connection to those who have read it, without alienating those who haven't or following the plot too closely.
5/5 stars!
This anthology was very interesting to me. I've always been a theatre nerd, and I've loved Shakespeare's plays since I was first forced able to read one in the ninth grade (the first one I read was The Merchant of Venice, if anyone is curious). When I saw this book available for review, I was intrigued and excited to read it. It took me a lot longer to read and write this review than I anticipated; the book is over 1000 pages altogether (although I did read it on my iPhone through iBooks, so it may be fewer pages on a larger screen). Don't let that scare you away, though; most of the stories range under 200 pages, many of them under 100. They're all quick, fascinating reads and really adapt Shakespeare's classic plays (and a sonnet!) into wonderful, relatable stories. Even if you don't like Shakespeare, give this book a try; it's excellent!
Averaging my ratings of the individual stories in this anthology (reviewed below in as spoiler-free of a way as I could), I give this anthology 4/5 stars!
"Rosemary for Remembrance", a Hamlet adaptation by Jess R. Sutton
"Rosemary for Remembrance" brings the classic plot line of Hamlet to a modern world, with a magical twist. The story follows 16-year-old Mel in the aftermath of her mother Rosemary's apparent suicide. Mel's aunt and uncle move into the house she shared with her mother, and Mel is convinced she's seen her mother's ghost telling her that her Aunt Clara murdered her. Mel's obsession with proving this drives wedges into her relationships and threatens to derail her life.
I love Hamlet; one of my fondest memories is reading it in my twelfth grade English class - is that weird? Probably. But this story has all the things you expect from Hamlet, set in a modern-feeling society that just so happens to have magic. The way magic is incorporated into the story and the setting is masterful; Sutton weaves it seamlessly into everyday life. Protagonist Mel works for an art studio where kids come after school to use kinetic paints that bring art to life on the page, and in the back of the studio she brews potions to do things like increase energy, and, quite notable in the plot, a new, untested potion to reduce the physical symptoms of grief.
One of the things I loved the most about this story is how Sutton incorporates Hamlet's breakdown in the play into Mel's character. It's not quite as extreme as Hamlet's in the play, nor does it have quite the same disastrous results (although having two characters in a modern day setting just whip out swords for a duel would be hilarious - just me? Okay.). But I enjoyed it nonetheless. The characters aren't quite as developed as I think they could become in a longer work, but that's to be expected in a story of this length. There also isn't a character in this story to match up with every character in Hamlet, because if there were, my goodness this would be a crowded short story. It's fairly obvious who some characters stand in for, and others who could be different characters or multiple rolled into one. I won't speak to that, because I think that removes some of the fun of reading the story itself.
Overall, I give this story 4/5 stars!
"Shoulders of Giants", a Titus Andronicus adaptation by Jon Garett and Richard Walsh
"Shoulders of Giants" sets the plot of Titus Andronicus to a futuristic, possibly alien (I wasn't sure if it was meant to be an alien world or just a futuristic version of earth, but perhaps I didn't pick up on something) world. The main characters are two brilliant young people from the rival nations of Basland and East Albion; Bridget and Hank, a scientist and a soldier.
I will admit, I've never read Titus Andronicus, but I did read the SparkNotes (I'm sorry, I know, I hated the kids who did that in high school too, but I haven't had the time to get my hands on a copy of the play a read it yet, so I'll have to do that when I get the chance. I loved the nod to the title of the play in the names of the mech-suits the rival nations create near the end of the story, though.
Let me just say: this is a massively toned-down version of the plot; it keeps the basic "cycle of revenge" plot with significantly mellowed violence. The revenge is mostly between the two nations rather than between two people, which makes the plot very interesting but makes it difficult to identify characters from the book specifically as characters from the play. I did find it very interesting how Bridget and Hank are both, to me at least, helpless in the hands of their respective nations, but think themselves independent. I can't say much more without spoiling, but the ending I found kept the spirit of the original play but commuted it wonderfully to the world Garett and Walsh chose for their story.
3.5/5 stars for this one!
"Lisbeth", a Macbeth adaptation by Selenia Paz
"Lisbeth" adapts the plot of Macbeth to a modern world. The story follows Lisbeth and Bianca, two young Mexican girls. On the Dia de los Muertos when they're 10 years old, they go into a tent at the cemetery and meet three fortune-tellers, who give them a prophecy that they will do great things. As they get older, Lisbeth remains obsessed with finding out the end of the prophecy; she glimpsed it on the scroll but could not read it. The girls' grandparents send them to live in America with Lisbeth's aunt, Lenna, and the girls work hard to become the best they can be in their classes. They both are accepted for a prestigious program that will send them into space as part of Operation Hecate.
May I first say: I am a massive Macbeth nerd. Is that a weird sentence? Probably. I still have trouble forcing myself to say the word Macbeth, because of the curse (short version: don't say Macbeth in a theatre unless you're saying dialogue from the play, or else something bad will happen. If you mess up, go outside as fast as you can, spin around 3 times and spit. I say go outside because don't spit in a theatre, that's nasty.) I was in a production of Macbeth in grade 10 - maybe I'll do a blog post on it sometime, it was a good time. The curse is totally real, though, that's all I'm gonna say right now. But I digress. I absolutely loved how Paz adapted the plot of the play to her characters and setting. The ending is wonderfully done; I found the entire story to be done very well. It was a riveting read overall, and the characters were well-written as well. This was one of my favourite stories in the anthology.
5/5 stars!
"A Midsummer Night's Brainwashing", a Midsummer Night's Dream adaptation by Allan Davis
"A Midsummer Night's Brainwashing" brings the basic idea of A Midsummer Night's Dream to a world where complex virtual reality simulations are a, well, a reality. The plot follows Robin Goodfellow Tucker, or Tuck, as he's called by friends, in his quest to make his crush, Heather, love him by giving her a love potion in the simulation.
If you know A Midsummer Night's Dream, you can probably guess how well that goes. The answer: it doesn't. Tuck manages to make two of his friends fall in love, though. I found this story kept the spirit of the original play, and it was a very short and quick read. I feel like it could have been expanded on more, however; I enjoyed it, but I would've liked some more context as to the nature of the internship that lets Tuck access the simulations, which apparently are owned by the government and allow some kind of mind-control. I like the ending where it was, but the 180 Tuck seems to pull confused me, although again it's possible I missed something critical. I think this story was good as-is, but it definitely would have had potential to grow into something more.
3/5 stars!
"Mark Corey", a Coriolanus adaptation by Patricia Scott
Mark Corey adapts the plot of Coriolanus to a modern day world, and makes it much more accessible to a modern audience. The main character, Mark Corey, is a high school senior obsessed with baseball. He lives, eats, and breathes the sport, in his own words. His only goal in life is to play baseball at the college level, and then move on to become professional. He knows everything about every team in the area, and strategizes his pitches to invariably defeat them all.
Coriolanus is another of Shakespeare's plays I haven't yet had the chance to read, but from what I understand about the play, this story brings the essence of the plot to a modern world and context almost effortlessly. Mark reads as a cocky - perhaps overly so - teenager, and although the ending is obvious nearly from the beginning, the writing keeps the reader from losing interest. I greatly enjoyed the parallels to the play, as well as the way Scott makes it much more relatable and modernizes it well.
4.5/5 stars!
"Angel and Demon", a Romeo and Juliet adaptation by Heather Dixon
Angel and Demon adapts the star-crossed lovers plot of Romeo and Juliet to a fascinating world where angels and demons are sent on missions by Heaven and Hell, respectively. The story jumps between places and time periods as the angel Julianne and the demon Rubix compete against one another to save or condemn people.
Romeo and Juliet is one of the most, not over-done, but the most commonly done plots out there. I'm not saying that's a bad thing; the tale of star-crossed lovers is so prevalent in literature and film that I doubt anyone could trace it back to where it started. This rendition of the plot, however, was one of the freshest and most inventive I've ever encountered, and I loved it. I devoured the story in one sitting; the historical aspects of it were fascinating to me, as was Dixon's depiction of the main characters. The ending, as well, was touching. It's a very feel-good story, rather in contrast to the original Romeo and Juliet.
5/5 stars!
"Onyx", an Othello adaptation by Alicia Michaels
Onyx takes the tragedy of Othello, and puts it into space. That's the simplest way to explain it, but this story is so much more. It is set in a post-apocalyptic future, where humanity's population has dwindled to around a million people, all of whom live on space stations after the destruction of Earth. The space stations are under constant attack by hostile alien species. Onyx himself is an alien, an Ethellien, and the last of his kind. He's married to Dia Tian, the daughter of a colonel aboard the station, and faces discrimination due to his alien heritage.
The story more or less follows the basic plot of Othello, but slightly shortened and tweaked to fit the world Michaels has created. Othello is another one of my favourite Shakespearean plays, and I think this story really did it justice. The characters stayed true to their inspirations, but still came across as believable and real for a modern/futuristic setting.
5/5 stars!
"The Taming of the Dudebro", a The Taming of the Shrew adaptation by Jane Watson
"The Taming of the Dudebro" brings the plot of The Taming of the Shrew to a relatable modern setting, and honestly it's a really funny story. I haven't read The Taming of the Shrew yet, but I understand the basic plot, and I think this story did it justice. Main character Patricia and her best friend Grizz are putting on a play Grizz wrote for a student festival, and their teacher assigns "surfer-boy" Kurt to their group, to save his grades and his chances at college and playing water polo.
The story follows the basic plot of the play, but updates it for a modern setting and the concerns that a high-school senior would have. Part of the reason why I loved this story so much is because I was very much one of the "theatre kids" in high school, and it drove me crazy when people who didn't care about the plays got roles just to fulfill the "Creativity" hours we needed for the International Baccalaureate program (not that I'm still bitter, or anything). Between that and being the one everyone wanted to be paired up with in group projects (because I would do everything myself to avoid a poor grade, if my group members refused to work), I found this story very relatable. I wish that those situations had ended as well for me as they did for Patricia and Grizz, but hey, I survived anyway.
This story was humorous and light-hearted, and, to me, very relatable.
5/5 stars!
"Star Walker", a Hamlet adaptation by Alex Irwin
"Star Walker" brings the plot of Hamlet to a futuristic world where humanity lives on space stations. The story begins with the funeral of the main character Letta's mother. Letta's mother was the captain of the ship, and Letta assumes she will take over from her mother. Her aunt, Claudia, is selected instead. Letta is devastated, and she becomes convinced that Claudia murdered her mother.
Like I've said before, I'm a sucker for anything related to Hamlet. This story was one of the most creative adaptations I've ever seen of the story, and I especially liked how Irwin adapted the "play" scene from the play where Hamlet tries to expose his uncle as a murderer; in this case, the way Letta tries to expose her aunt. It's one of the harder scenes to adapt, I would think, because it's a scene that needs to keep a certain spirit but without being a carbon copy of the original scene from the play.
The ending itself is also heart-wrenching, and it keeps the dark themes from the play, which I find a lot of people who adapt the story for different characters and setting tend to shy away from.
5/5 stars!
"The Desperate Warrior and the Beast Who Walks Without Sound", a Sonnet 25 adaptation by T. Damon
"The Desperate Warrior and the Beast Who Walks Without Sound" draws inspiration from Shakespeare's Sonnet 25 and adapts it into an incredible short story. I honestly have no idea how Damon would have developed this entire rich world from just the few lines of that sonnet, and I am absolutely in awe. This story was incredible. I never would have thought to adapt a Shakespearean sonnet into the short story, and while I can definitely see how it inspired this story, I find it mind-boggling that such a short, vague poem could inspire something like this.
The main character, Wakisa, is a member of the Thunder tribe that have long been at war with the Sun tribe. His name translates to "desperate warrior" - that was a feature I loved about this story; all the characters had meanings to their names that often foreshadowed their role. He is charged with the mission to kill the "Beast that Walks Without Sound". That's about all I can say without spoiling, but I absolutely adored this story.
Honestly, I would definitely read a novel that was set in this world. The story itself is perfect as-is; it has a lovely plot that ties up neatly and gives a satisfying ending. There is more I would love to know about the world; backstory, where "the Beast" came from, even what happens to Wakiza after the story. I think it's definitely something that could be expanded wonderfully, but it's also excellent as-is without anymore expansion.
5/5 stars!
"Gale", a Tempest adaptation by Lyssa Chiavari
"Gale" draws ideas from Shakespeare's The Tempest and adapts them to an incredible fantasy world. Gale is the name of a small planet, the moon of a larger planet called Orbe that supposedly houses monsters and gods that "The Brotherhood", the rulers of Gale, banished in the past, but which wish to retake Gale and threaten the lives of everyone. "The Brotherhood" watches the people through the aptly-named "Watch", which monitors everyone for conformity. Main character Miranda has fits, which frightens her parents as it is not an ailment the Healers find treatable, so if they are discovered Miranda could be killed. Miranda then begins having visions of a girl named Ferda, and discovers a deep secret in herself, her family, and Gale itself.
This story was hugely inventive. I loved the world and the concept, and I especially loved the nods to the original play, both in the names and in some of the events of the story. I read The Tempest in the tenth grade, and this brought a pleasant sort of nostalgia with it. I was immediately drawn in by the world building and by the first-person voice of Miranda, and I finished the story in one sitting.
"Gale" is a wonderful, inventive adaptation of The Tempest; it holds enough of a resemblance to the play to invoke that kind of nostalgic connection to those who have read it, without alienating those who haven't or following the plot too closely.
5/5 stars!
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