ARC Review: Dark Aemilia: A Novel of Shakespeare's Dark Lady by Sally O'Reilly

About Book

A TALE OF SORCERY AND PASSION IN SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY LONDON—WHERE WITCHES HAUNT WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE AND HIS DARK LADY, THE PLAYWRIGHT'S MUSE AND ONE TRUE LOVE

The daughter of a Venetian musician, Aemilia Bassano came of age in Queen Elizabeth’s royal court. The Queen’s favorite, she develops a love of poetry and learning, maturing into a young woman known not only for her beauty but also her sharp mind and quick tongue. Aemilia becomes the mistress of Lord Hunsdon, but her position is precarious. Then she crosses paths with an impetuous playwright named William Shakespeare and begins an impassioned but ill-fated affair.

A decade later, the Queen is dead, and Aemilia Bassano is now Aemilia Lanyer, fallen from favor and married to a fool. Like the rest of London, she fears the plague. And when her young son Henry takes ill, Aemilia resolves to do anything to save him, even if it means seeking help from her estranged lover, Will—or worse, making a pact with the Devil himself.

My Review

4 Stars

I received this book through Goodreads First Reads.

Dark Aemilia: A Novel of Shakespeare's Dark Lady is a beautifully written  historical fiction novel. I have always loved things related to Shakespeare so Dark Aemilia captured me from the start. Sally O'Reilly brought to life a dark & magical story of Aemilia Bassano & William Shakespeare. This story has romance, passion, dark magic, & a little poetry (of course). 

**Mature content throughout the story.

I really enjoyed reading Dark Aemilia from beginning to end. There were a few grammar and punctuations errors here and there but since this was an ARC I can let that slide. The story kept my attention all the way until the end which is a huge plus. This was a lovely dark, fantasy read to me. O'Reilly is a wonderful writer and I look forward to reading more by her.