Dark Aemilia: A Novel of Shakespeare's Dark Lady

by Sally O'Reilly

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. In rich, vivid detail, Sally O'Reilly breathes life into England's first female poet, a mysterious woman nearly forgotten by history. Full of passion and devilish schemes, Dark Aemilia is a tale worthy of the Bard.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Romance, British Literature, Adult Fiction, 16th Century

448 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

Sally O'Reilly has received numerous citations for her fiction, which has been shortlisted for the Ian St James Short Story Prize and the Cosmopolitan Short Story Award. A former Cosmopolitan New Journalist of the Year, her work has appeared in The Guardian, The Sunday Times, the Evening Standard, and the New Scientist. She teaches creative writing at the Open University and the University of Portsmouth in England. Dark Aemilia is her U.S. debut.

Reviews

[Historical Fiction · Rating 3 out of 5]

Find this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

Sally O'Reilly's Dark Aemilia is unlike any Shakespeare inspired piece I've ever encountered. Offering a unique twist on the Bard's Dark Lady, I found the tale bold and imaginative. It is rough in several places and ultimately fell into the 'not for me' category, but that does not mean it was entirely without merit.

Though they share remarkably few scenes, the tortured relationship O'Reilly crafted between Will and Aemilia held a lot of appeal for me. Spanning Will's career, it was easy to imagine his conflict of emotions and how they might have influenced his writing over time. I also appreciated how their mutual interests served as a double edged sword.

I also appreciated the atmospheric quality of the narrative. Taking place in the streets of London, O'Reilly is faithful to history and gives her readers an appropriately grim illustration of life under both Elizabeth and James. The night Marie goes into labor and the plague scenes are shocking, but I felt such moment brought authenticity to the narrative and emphasized the realities of the period.

That said, there are several instances in which I feel the author's explicitness crude, vulgar, and entirely unnecessary...

I wonder how many times she’s sucked off Inchbald to earn enough to buy such an extravagant gewgaw. Or perhaps he gave it to her in fair exchange, for services rendered. Oh, Lord, now I can see her lips, pulsing away at his groin! And the white crumbs of her face powder, dusting his curly pubes.

Yeah... I really didn't need that mental image and I don't think it really added much to Aemilia's story.

I was also irked that the flow of the narrative often came across as forced, awkward, and irrational. Take for example the scene where Elizabeth calls Aemilia to her deathbed after a ten year absence. Maybe it is just me, but I felt the moment far-fetched within the context of the story. It struck me as an unnatural choice, a scene fueled by the author's desire to write Elizabeth's character rather than plausible context.

Finally, I really didn't like O'Reilly characterization of Lilith. Conceptually I felt the cult of women made great reading material, but I feel very strongly that O'Reilly took the idea too far in allowing the supernatural to materialize as a tangible force in Aemilia's world. The end result is less historic fiction than it is historic fantasy and undermined her own ambition to 'tell a story that was [both] authentic and historically accurate.'

In sum, Dark Aemilia is an intriguing tale, but one I feel best appreciated by those who approach it with an open mind and strong stomach.

[Barb · Rating 1 out of 5]

Aemilia Bassono, enjoyed the advantages of being mistress to Lord Hunsdon for years, he was an excellent protector and provider. During their relationship she had an affair with William Shakespeare. Later she marries her cousin Alfonso Lanyer, a poor life partner, and raises her son far from the glitter and prosperity of court.

I’m trying to figure out why this novel didn’t work for me. I love fiction set during the Elizabethan period especially if it includes the plague, which this novel does. The period details are well done, including details about clothing, marketing, food, music and the customs of the Queen’s court. The backdrop created for this story is rich and lush and alive with the sights and smells of London.

I did enjoyed the beginning of the story where Aemilia and Shakespeare were involved but looking back, even that portion of the book left me wanting. I guess what was missing was a depth of emotion on Aemilia's part, I just didn't feel the passion or the disappointment for the turn of events that cause Aemilia and William to part ways. I also didn’t care for the timing of the critical plot element which created the tension and conflict between them, it felt somewhat contrived.

While enjoying most of what I was reading I disliked the heavy-handedness of the theme of male domination and female submission, I found it and the claim of Aemilia's cleverness somewhat redundant. I wanted to see her cleverness in action and not just be told repeatedly that she was ‘as clever as a man’. I also didn’t care for the supernatural thread that ran through the story, it felt underdeveloped. Other events also seem contrived. Aemilia’s being summons to the Queen’s death bed seemed very unlikely and the subsequent conversation the two women have even less likely. When the queen dies soon after, Aemilia decides to risk contagion from the plague to go see the Queen’s funeral procession and offers us her reason as wishing to see the queen one more time, despite having just seen her. As I’m reading all of these things are niggling at me.

Other things bothered me, I was disappointed by the impromptu reunion between Aemilia and William as well as his lack of reaction to seeing a certain family member. And I realized I disliked Aemilia when she was cruel to her neighbor and supposed friend, Anne for the way she makes ends meet. This is the woman Aemilia confesses to thinking of another man while bedding her husband, Alfonso. Aemilia then tells us that Will is this other man, which was rather obvious to anyone reading the book. Aemilia was a writer but we hear very little about her writing and what she has written. I confess to throwing in the towel when the carter collecting the corpses of the plague victims begins to sexually assault one of the corpses. Calling out “Who wants a lick of these fine dugs?” Dugs being slang for breasts and used six times prior to this occasion.

I'm sorry, this just wasn't for me and I didn't think the things I disliked were going to improve. Other readers might not be bothered by the issues I had with the story but I couldn't get past them.

Thank you to Picador Publishers and the Amazon Vine program for making this book available to me in exchange for an honest review.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aemilia Bassano was born in 1569, the illegitimate child of a musician in the court of Queen Elizabeth. She was raised - and educated – in the household of the Countess of Kent. When she grew up she became part of the Queen’s household, and the mistress of Henry Carey, the Lord Chamberlain. Aemila kept those positions for many years, but she lost them when she fell pregnant; she was cast off and married off – to the lowliest of court musicians. He – Alfonso Lanyer- was quick to spend the dowry that his bride brought him, and within a year the couple were poor and struggling ….

…. and yet - somehow - Aemilia Lanyer became the first woman have a volume of poetry published ….

But surely Adam can not be excused,
Her fault though great, yet he was most to blame;
What Weakness offered, Strength might have refused,
Being Lord of all, the greater was his shame:
Although the Serpent’s craft had her abused,
God’s holy word ought all his actions frame,
For he was Lord and King of all the earth,
Before poore Eve had either life or breath.

Who being framed by God’s eternal hand,
The perfectest man that ever breathed on earth;
And from God’s mouth received that straight command,
The breach whereof he knew was present death:
Yea having power to rule both Sea and Land,
Yet with one Apple won to loose that breath
Which God had breathed in his beauteous face,
Bringing us all in danger and disgrace.

(From ‘Eve’s Apology in Defense of Women’ by Amelia Lanyer)

Such a woman, such a life …. and such a gift to a historical novelist.

Sally O’Reilly has spun a story around the known facts of Aemilia’s life wonderfully well. And she adds in a hypothesis of her own which, though unlikely, she makes so very believable. What if Aemelia was the ‘Dark Lady’ of William Shakespeare’s sonnets ….?

The sixteenth century lives and breather from the first word, with a wealth of details and such colour in the rich, lush prose. The Elizabeth’s court is painted with such bright colours, and I was utterly captivated, but it was when the story moved to the dark and dirty streets, and the gaudy world of the theatre, that the story took flight.

It was easy to see that Aemilia’s beauty, charm, wit and intelligence made her a favourite at court – and a particular favourite of the Queen; and it was equally easy to see that in a male dominated society, with little limited means to determine her own fate, even those qualities would not make her life secure.

It was Aemelia herself who pulled me through the story. She was fascinating, she was infuriating, and she was a real, fallible woman who was prepared to fight for the things she wanted. And most of all she fought for the son she loved so dearly.

That took her to some very dark places – and at time it veered dangerously close to melodrama, but the stark reality of Aemilia’s situation and the choices she had to make, and the cleverness of the plotting, saved it.

And that brings me to William Shakespeare. Sally O’Reilly painted his character so well, giving him the intelligence and wit he needed to write as he did, the charm to court Aemilia, and also making him vulnerable and fallible. The doubts about whether he wrote all of the work attributed to him are used very cleverly in the plot, and there’s a very nice explanation of the matter of the ‘second best bed’.

The portrayal of the dying Elizabeth I is very done too, balancing queenly regality and human vulnerability; and though I doubted that she would have summoned Aemilia, who had been assent from court for some years to her side, I was captivated by their dialogue and by the vivid storytelling.

The twists and turns of the plot – many of then so very clever – held me from start to finish.

There are one or two liberties taken – and a few times when the story was a little darker, a little more explicit than it needed to be. But in the end that didn’t matter.

I was pulled right into Elizabethan England.

I met a fascinating woman. I am so, so pleased that we met.

And I do believe that she might have inspired a poet ….

“Past cure I am, now reason is past care,
And frantic-mad with evermore unrest;
My thoughts and my discourse as madman’s are
For I have sworn thee fair, and thought thee bright
Who art as black as hell, as dark as night”

(William Shakespeare – sonnet 147)

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been a really fascinating subject for a historical fiction novel in the right hands, but unfortunately the author chose to go the sensationalist route.

This novel is about an actual woman, Aemilia Bassano Lanyer, who was the mistress of Lord Hunsdon at Queen Elizabeth I’s court. She was married off when she became pregnant (which was usually what happened with royal or aristocratic mistresses then); and later became the first professional woman poet in England. This much is known about her from written historical sources.

There is also speculation that she might have been the inspiration for Shakespeare’s sonnets about “The Dark Lady,” usually on the rather slim evidence that she was one of the few women he would have known at court who had dark hair, complexion, and eyes because of her Italian heritage.

There is no actual evidence that she and Shakespeare were lovers, and certainly no evidence that she wrote the play “Macbeth” as the author Sally O’Reilly has her doing, but of course anything is possible.

It also helps O’Reilly’s story-line that the timing and provenance of many of Shakespeare’s plays are so mysterious, and that it was customary for authors to do a good deal of “borrowing” from other sources back then.

It’s an interesting premise for a historical fiction novel, so I can see why O’Reilly wanted to write about it. And she does do a good job of portraying what every-day life was like in Elizabethan England.

In particular, she details the difficulties, prejudices, and downright sexual predation that women had to deal with then, especially any woman who was ambitious to make a name for herself in her own right. I gave the novel an extra star for this very authentic treatment.

But O’Reilly ruined it for me when she had Aemilia start to dabble in the black arts and call up a demon to get her revenge. I know it was a superstitious age in which people did believe in witches. I can also accept that there were people who practiced what was believed to be magic or witchcraft, but was in reality knowledge about medicinal herbs and astute judgments about human nature. But O’Reilly treats the demons and all as if it actually could have happened, which clashes with the realistic tone she used in other parts of the story.

It was like she wanted to write both a historical fiction and a fantasy story, but few authors can make these two styles mesh well together.

I was also disappointed, but not really surprised, that O’Reilly chose to make the Earl of Essex Queen Elizabeth’s illegitimate son. This is a common speculation that many historians and scholars have made. Of course anything is possible, as I said before. However, rumors of secret lovers and illegitimate children were also common slanders that many single or widowed female rulers were subjected to back then.

It is extremely unlikely that Queen Elizabeth – a ruling monarch who lived every aspect of her life in public -- could have had illegitimate children without a lot of people knowing about it. I wish O’Reilly had resisted this easy method of titillation.

I’m sure there are many readers who will like this type of novel, but I prefer even my historical fiction to have a more realistic tone, so this book just didn’t do it for me. Which is too bad, because I think this novel could have been so much more.

[Tracey Allen at Carpe Librum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little does she know it, but author Sally O'Reilly wrote this book just for me. Set in London during the late 1500s and the time of Queen Elizabeth I, Dark Aemilia has it all: Shakespeare, plague, sorcery, witchcraft, witty dialogue, great writing and hot sex scenes. I mean come on! Sally O'Reilly, I love you!

And the cover, oh the cover, simply stunning.

Based on a real person, Aemilia is an inspirational woman born before her time, thought to be Shakespeare's dark muse, struggling with the role of women in society and how little power they had over their destiny. She was England's first female poet, and in O'Reilly's hands she's intelligent, proud, headstrong and passionate.

Here's a great quote from Page 129:
"...all my other little aches and torments have gone. Those besetting symptoms that all of us in London must put up with: soot-wheeze, ale-runs, head-gripe, back-ache, lassitude and dread-belly - not to mention sundry scabs, carbuncles and lesions of the skin - all such ailments have vanished."

And this from Page 270:
" 'Leave this house', I say. 'Get out, you scripture-spouting, fish-cold arse-wart. Or I'll call down a curse which'll curdle the guts in your belly'. "

Brilliant writing, richly evocative and an intelligent story, I loved and adored this novel and didn't want it to end.

Dark Aemilia is for lovers of historical fiction, witty dialogue, Shakespeare and the darker side of London in the 16th Century. Yes please! I can't wait to see what talented author Sally O'Reilly writes for me next. A tale worthy of the Bard I'm sure.


And another quote from Page 270, because I just have to:
"I'll broil your brain in its shallow skull! Mangle your preachifying words into Bedlam babble, and corrupt your skin into a thousand worm-infested sores! I'll make you pray for Hades as a respite from your pain! And I'll twist your mind to such distraction that you'll tear off all your limbs to find relief and sanity! Do you hear me, you pox-groined, foul-nosed turd-stain?"

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Aemilia Bassano was a published poet, a major feat for a woman of her time (this story takes place during the height of the Elizabethan era). She also may have been one of the muses for the one and only William Shakespeare. The operative phrase here is "may have been." In this book, O'Reilly explores who Aemilia was and makes a conjecture as to what her relationship may be have been with Shakespeare. It is a fascinating look, which will interest my fellow historical fiction readers.

Aemilia is a very fascinating figure. Although she had many achievements for a woman of her time, her fate is still very much tied up with the men that she marries or loves. Although Aemilia may have been Shakespeare's muse, they do not share many scenes in this book. The book really focuses on Aemilia's life and Will almost plays a sub-role throughout the book. I wish that Will had been in the book more as I really love reading about him! I wish that there had been more of a focus on some parts of her life (maybe more about how her and Will's relationship started)than others but overall, you get a really nice overview of her story.

There was some really good writing here. O'Reilly tries and succeeds in capturing the sort of bawdy language that might have been bandied about during Shakespeare's time. It really added a nice air to the book!

[J. Else · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overview – “Dark Aemilia” is a story about a strong and passionate woman, is extremely well researched, and proposes that perhaps Aemilia Bassano was the woman behind Shakespeare’s musings. However, I found few good character moments in the storyline and felt that more detail should have been given to the process of Aemilia’s writing craft. I was so excited to read this story but was sadly let down.

Part 1: Passion – There is no depth or emotion. The characters continually jump into bed together and make stupid choices. When did Amelia fall in love with Will Shakespeare? The only “out of bed” moment was when he was criticizing her poetry. And they never really talked nicely or lovey-dovey to each other. Aemilia is supposedly learned, and I thought this would come out with her moments with Shakespeare (especially as he fleshes out plays – I wanted some of this as I used to study Shakespeare in college!), but she ends up being more of a bragger and insulter than a doer.

Additionally, there were lots of lewd comments and name calling. The main character makes stupid choices ("this guy seems to want to rape me, but I'm going to stay and have a glass of wine and read him my poems"). And I really got frustrated with the overuse of the word "cunt," which I'm not a fan of.

The preview of the book states: 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. None of this was in the book! This is the stuff I wanted and expected to read about! How did she become the queen’s favorite? What does it feel like to play a virginal instrument for the queen? What books of learning were her favorite and where did she study them? Nothing. So this book does not give the reader a chance to get to know the character. It portrays her only as a prostitute and never rises above this, which is extremely disappointing if you’re trying to build an interesting and strong female protagonist. Aemilia even refers to herself often in derogatory and condescending terms.

I will state that the verbiage feels very authentic and helps to set the historical stage. I appreciate the terms and vernacular use in Aemilia’s thoughts, metaphors, and phrases (at the same time, less use of the “f” word and other fornication terms would be welcome). However, the vocab list at the back of the book should be expanded. A lot of words are missed. And while it states around the title pages that there are maps, no such maps are in the advanced reader copies sadly (I really like historical maps).

Part 2: Prophecy & Part 3: Petulance - I'm glad to be past the "passion" part of the story where love and sex seems to be the same thing. In these new chapters, Aemilia’s son is 10 years old, and he’s a manipulative hellion. He calls his mom a whore and says to her that he needs to climb trees, play with dead frogs like footballs, and blind cats “like all normal boys do.” I was disgusted. He wants to participate in the bawdy and lewd entertainment including following plague carts? I know motherly love knows no bounds, but Henry makes it hard for the audience to connect with. This boy seems much older than 10 and extremely ill-witted.

I feel like the author knows a great deal about this time period but does not respect it. Every character is a stereotype. Priests, papists, players, and common people are all lacking manners and morals. Almost every interaction is vulgar. And the word “dugs” is grating on my nerves.

Aemilia’s servant, Joan, is the only appealing character in these chapters. She’s made mistakes in the past, has learned from them, and lives her life to help others. Her sacrifice is very heartrending, though I would have been fine with less gore. While its brief, the author choses her words carefully to make the action very succinct and easy to picture.

Part 3: Philosophy – It amazes me how Aemilia continues to be rather brash, stubborn, and does not listen to others. She never learns. She prays to God when it’s convenient but expects instant results. I understand how she does not want to be tamed by the world, but her personality is rather frustrating.

The story itself has a rather stunted flow to it. I’m glad the author included a brief history of events by date; otherwise, I would not have known certain things which happened including Alfonso’s first sailing expedition. When I read their discussion of this venture, I had no idea when it had happened and had to stop and review the author’s timeline. These timelines are usually reserved for events outside of the character’s lives, so I’m not sure if the author intended to use the timeline as a substitute for writing about certain events? The second expedition was mentioned prior to it occurring, but many events never seem to happen during the chapters though were mentioned afterwards. The only event experienced firsthand was Elizabeth’s death and funeral. This makes the storyline come across as piecemeal.

At one point, it seems like Aemilia is finally learning something about forgiveness and humbling her anger. But then, after knowing she missed a meeting with Will, she reads a spiteful letter to her about how hurt he by what happened, and she goes back to her old pride-filled ways again. Thus, she calls upon a demon to exact revenge... including on her neighbor's son who's always been a loyal friend!!! She has just seen Tom Flood ask for forgiveness for his ways, blames himself for his children’s deformity, and commits himself to the woman he loves and the conjoined twins she birthed. Yet she gives the demon HIS name for revenge? I really lost all respect for her when she let his name slip. He did not intentionally steal her play! His fate would have had more of an emotional punch if he had not been mentioned to Lilith.

Part 4: Poetry – The last two scenes in this section were beautiful. I think I felt this because the gruesome and graphic elements were avoided. It was focused on Aemilia and her emotions. However, the publication of her first poetry book was rather rushed. I thought the point of the book was for her to accomplish her dream of getting published, and we never got the payoff when it finally happened after much persecution and doubt. Men would laugh at her when she mentioned writing, yet when it happens, there was no written emotional reaction. It just sort of happened one day without a hitch. I was disappointed that the process which brought to fruition her historic poems, making her the first published female poet, were not fleshed out. And I wanted more of them included.

To my surprise, I was left completely breathless by a couple heartfelt moments. The last pages at the re-built Globe were illustrated with care and love. I enjoyed Aemilia’s observations before Burbage walked out. I think this was a great ending. However, it made it feel more like Shakespeare’s story than hers as it ended as a tribute to him.

But the moment that made this book for me was when the shades were opened. Aemilia comes to say her goodbyes to a dying Shakespeare. Sadly, since their parting, he has become badly burned from the fire at the Globe. When she walks into the room where he is dying, the shades are drawn, so she cannot see his face. At the end of their dialogue, he asks her to draw the shades. But instead of detailing how he looks now, the author substitutes this for a memory of Aemilia’s. It was a moment from when they were newly in love. So rather than seeing a burned face, the author gives us a tanned and youthful face full of love for the title character. It illustrates how Aemilia finally looks at him with her heart. I teared up when I read this and sometimes tear up just thinking about how tender this moment was. Finally, we see true love. I never got the impression Aemilia understood this until that point. Very, very well written. A truly poetic and emotionally-charged sequence. This memory is our last encounter of Shakespeare, and it’s the best part of the story.

Summary - So much more of this book could have been like these last chapters. The vulgarity was not necessary at all. It would have been nice to focus more on the craft of writing than the sex. Shakespeare and Aemilia had in common a love of the written word. Molding them together through this art would have really shown depth to their characters and relationships. I never felt their connection. But we do not get the development of this. We only get their lusty moments. This book could have been great, but I think the author focused on the wrong aspects. I do not want to read about Aemilia’s dirty thoughts or her bed habits. I want to read about her love of poetry and how this relates to her everyday life. Do certain places inspire her? What barriers does she overcome to bring the words to life (as this was a problem for her at the beginning of the story)?

The author did a great bit of research, but most of the story is fabricated (and she admits this). I appreciated her details to the small elements of life from that time period. I loved the rich vernacular that felt authentic to the period. I liked seeing Shakespeare’s plays come to life. But overall, Aemilia’s character did not show much growth. She was the same stubborn, headstrong, crass person from start to finish.

A lot of aspects are hit upon the book, but nothing is ever really focused on for long. There are the monarchs, there’s the religious bigotry, the plagues, MacBeth forgery, witchcraft, scientifically-created humans, demons, etc. It’s like O’Reilly wants to do a lot of things but does not give time enough to give these elements meaning. So I was not sure what the author was trying to get across by including such a vast array of plot elements. None of them ever get a resolution.

I remember when I was in “Romeo and Juliet” in college, and some of the other actors were extremely serious about NOT mentioning “MacBeth” behind the scenes. You could not say the word without fear of cursing the production. I thought it was interesting how the author brought this to life and never really answered if it was supernatural or natural causes to the curse upon “MacBeth.” Either way, I liked the exploration.

I would probably read another story by this author. Her attention to detail is superb. However, I hope there is more focus on other emotions besides lust and other actions than nighttime rendezvouses.

[Roman Clodia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Does a disservice to the real Aemilia Lanyer

I have two problems with this book: the first is that it does a disservice to the real Aemilia Lanyer, more of which later; the second is that the love story lacks emotional authenticity: people only act and talk like this in Mills & Boon-type romantic fiction.

To take the latter point first, I really hate lazy books which start with the heroine hating the hero while not being able to stop thinking about him and asking herself dumb questions about why her heart is beating so fast, and why is she so breathless... it's trite, it's nonsensical, it's been done trillions of times before. I really expected better from this book.

The second point is more pernicious: Aemilia Lanyer was a real person, one of a number of (not *the*) Renaissance women who wrote and published their poetry. She was a religious poet who used the cover of religion to contest the cultural position of women: her outspoken defence of Eve, for example, is one of the reasons she is read by modern scholars as a proto-feminist.

A.L.Rowse, however, in the 1970s, put forward the (incorrect) view that she was the `dark lady' of Shakespeare's sonnets - with absolutely no evidence whatsoever. O'Reilly, in her afterword, admits she knows that this old-fashioned view from 50 years ago has little academic currency yet uses it anyway. The result is to take a woman who was a bold and audacious poet in her own right and turn her into the object of a male-authored text - exactly the point that Lanyer herself contested so vocally. There is a long tradition of women being re-made and contained as the `muses' and objects of male art rather than artists in their own right... that this should be made to happen through a book written by a woman in 2014 is extremely disappointing.

Ok, this is fiction - but it's fiction based on the life of a real woman whose poetry is studied in universities today (available cheaply here: Renaissance Women Poets: Isabella Whitney, Mary Sidney and Aemilia Lanyer ). This is not the only historical blip: Lanyer frets in 1592 that a letter written to Shakespeare might have got lost at the Globe: but the Globe wasn't built until 1599. I appreciate not everyone will be bothered by historical accuracy but it irritated me out of the story. As did the language which feels frequently anachronistic. And don't even get me started on Aemilia's conjuration... I have to disagree with the blurb which talks about how well researched and historically accurate this is.

So this book disappointed me on many levels: the cover is so beautifully enticing, but the story is based on tired old fictional conventions: that Shakespeare's poetry is merely autobiography in verse, that women are written rather than writers, and that Renaissance love is just Mills & Boon in fancy clothes.

[The Lit Bitch · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting something entirely different with this novel than what I actually read. I thought this was going to be a novel about love and magic in Queen Elizabeth’s court.

Yes it was that….sort of, but it seemed more like an erotic historic novel. Aemilia could have been interesting if she wasn’t so crass. I normally don’t shy away from graphic erotica or colorful language when it adds something to the story or character, but in this novel I just didn’t think it was necessary and didn’t really add anything. It seemed more like it was being used for shock value instead.

I liked that Aemilia was a very spirited character and didn’t want to be tamed or tempered by society, but at the same time she was so stubborn and unforgiving that it made it hard for me to like her or see any of her other redeeming qualities. She was very clever and sassy which I liked but I was so put off by her head strong attitude that I struggled to identify with her.

For someone who was so self sufficient and independent I often felt that she made poor choices.

I thought many of her descriptions were historically accurate and I loved the use of period language in many parts of the story. That was the only thing that saved this novel for me.

This novel seems like the kind of book either readers liked it or they didn’t. I was expecting something entirely different, especially from the description of the novel.

This book needs to be read with an open mind, for the right person it was probably a wonderful read, for me it fell short in too many areas unfortunately. I’ve read plenty of other reviews where people loved this book so if you have this on your TBR list, you might want to give it a go with an open mind and you might like it.

See my full review here

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

A well researched Shakespearean era tale that has as much tragedy, revenge, love and lust as can be found in any play by the Bard himself. Wonderful descriptive passages made the scenes come alive to the point that you could almost smell the festering bile that filled the streets. Sadly, for me, this was a story that had so much potential but felt too choppy and underdeveloped in many places. Story arcs would be initiated and then abandoned for chapters at a time only to be taken up again briefly but not explained. I found myself frustrated to tears near the end (I can't say why as I don't want to mention any spoilers) as a story line simply ended with no explanation at all. I think that the author has a wonderful turn of phrase and fabulous imagination and it was in no way a terrible book but I just found the stop-start story to be too frustrating. On a side note, I didn't find the language too off putting even though the use of a word that I loathe was more frequent that I liked.

[Sara Burgess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whereas Sally O'Reilly really created the muck and plague reality of the era very convincingly, I thought the plotting was disjointed and its portrayal of an eminently important female writer of the era as a writer was patchy. The portrayal of her as fiercely protective of her son and a seeker of magical responses to resolve issues in her life was given more time than what she was mostly known for, her poetry, namely the apology for Eve. Her actual writing of the poem about Adam's second wife seemed to have been displaced by her obsession in conjuring up his first to save her son. I did enjoy the forays into fantasy, apart from the chief one being that she wrote Macbeth, the other being that she could actually conjure up a demon which caused certain historical events, which I rather liked. Although I enjoyed reading again some of the key speeches from the play, they felt distinctly added in, as we know them so well from elsewhere. I didn't believe in this conceit at all. Why not concentrate on the things she actually did write?

I want to say something about the sex in the novel. We saw this quite graphically at times, between Amelia and Hunsden, Shakespeare, and Wriothesley, although the latter was virtually rape. The scene with the man at the plague pit inviting the ravenous audience to lick the dugs of a young deceased girl showed to what depths of depravity humans can go. This was also curiously shown by the child Henry, who was desperate to go out and watch a hanging or stare at the plague pits. There were some interesting ideas, but held together a little loosely in a five act structure mimicking the Bard's plays.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark Aemilia is a fictional account of the life of Aemilia Lanyer, one of several women whose names have been suggested as possible candidates for the 'Dark Lady' of Shakespeare's sonnets. She was also one of the first women in England to have a book of poetry published.

Born Aemilia Bassano, the illegitimate daughter of a Venetian musician at the court of Elizabeth I, Aemilia becomes the mistress of the much older nobleman Lord Hunsdon. When she discovers that she is pregnant, she is forced to leave court and is married off to another court musician, Alfonso Lanyer. However, the father of her child (according to Sally O'Reilly) is probably not Hunsdon, but a young playwright by the name of William Shakespeare.

Aemilia first meets Shakespeare at a performance of The Taming of the Shrew where she confronts him over his negative portrayal of women in the play. Not the best of starts to their relationship, but a brief affair follows – despite the fact that Shakespeare is already married. Aemilia finds a kindred spirit in William, a man who shares her love of poetry, literature and the theatre, before their affair comes to an end after a misunderstanding. Aemilia resigns herself to life away from court with Alfonso Lanyer and her beloved baby boy, Henry, but she is reunited with Shakespeare during an outbreak of plague in London. And when Henry becomes seriously ill, Aemilia is prepared to do anything to save his life.

My feelings about Dark Aemilia are very mixed. I would like to be able to say that I loved it, but that wouldn't be true; in fact I came very close to abandoning it several times during the first half of the book. I felt that I was reading about nothing but Aemilia's love affairs and at the risk of sounding like a prude, I thought the language was unnecessarily vulgar. I don't always have a problem with that sort of thing, but in this case I didn’t feel that it was adding anything to the story. I kept reading, though, and somewhere in the middle of the book I found that I was finally being drawn in. The language remained bold and lively (and appropriate to the Elizabethan setting) but not as explicit as it was earlier on in the novel and the plot moved away from Aemilia's love life to focus on other storylines.

As Sally O'Reilly states in her author's note, the real Aemilia would not have been a feminist in the modern sense of the word, but her surviving poetry (such as the poem Eve's Apology in Defense of Women) shows that she felt strongly about the roles of men and women. The fictional Aemilia speaks up on behalf of the female sex whenever she can, challenging the views of the men around her. As an intelligent and talented woman, she doesn't have the opportunities that would have been open to her if she had lived today and she finds it very difficult to gain any recognition for her work. This leads to an interesting interpretation of the question of who actually wrote the plays attributed to Shakespeare – there's no evidence that Aemilia had any involvement in them, but Sally O'Reilly's theories work in the context of this novel.

Aemilia is a fascinating character and I was left wanting to know more about the real woman. William Shakespeare, though, is not really shown in a very good light and the portrayal of his romance with Aemilia didn't feel completely convincing to me. They didn't actually have many scenes together and when they did meet I didn't sense much love or passion between the two of them – not until very near the end. There were other characters in the book who interested me more than Shakespeare did; I was particularly intrigued by Simon Forman, the astrologer who was said to have cured himself of the plague. And this is where I need to mention another aspect of Dark Aemilia: black magic and the occult. I won't spoil the story by telling you exactly how this is woven into the plot, but I think this will be something you'll either love or hate!

While I did have my problems with Dark Aemilia, in the end my lasting impression of the book is of the wonderfully vivid portrayal of Elizabethan England. The writing is very atmospheric and there are some great descriptions of dark, dirty streets, crowded marketplaces, the sights and sounds of the Globe Theatre, the frozen River Thames in winter and a London ravaged by plague. I'm pleased I perservered and followed Aemilia's story through to the end and I would happily read more books by Sally O'Reilly.

[Leslie · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s very rare that I come across a book in which there was nothing about it that I can speak kindly of and prevent it from getting a one star rating. I wish there was something positive that I can say about Dark Aemilia but when the main emotion you feel when you finished reading the book is relief, it pretty much sums up what you thought about the book.

From the beginning, the book failed to capture and retain my attention. Which is disappointing considering it was a story involving real historical figures, which includes William Shakespeare, in a fictional tale about an illicit and doomed love affair. I can’t really pinpoint exactly why I couldn’t get into the story. Books that I love had the ability to draw me into what was happening and making me care about the characters. In this book, however, I felt disconnected from the characters and therefore never was able to get invested into their story. The narrative came off flat to me and seemed like it was one big exposition that at times came off jumbled and long. I didn’t get the feel of Shakespeare’s time period. The writing was such that I personally didn’t think it did the job of bringing the Elizabethan period to life. Furthermore, I wasn’t sure whether the book was trying for a realistic tone of a historical fiction or it wanted to be a mixture of historical fiction and fantasy. I thought the book could’ve done without the mention of magic and demons. It seemed like Sally O'Reilly wasn’t as committed to including the idea and only went part way with it thus resulting in a disjointed aspect of the tale. It didn’t feel like it fit in with the story and made certain scenes seem off.

Being a book about a secret love affair it didn’t have the feel of it. I was expecting that aspect of the story to have been more well developed than it was. I thought the affair between Shakespeare and Aemilia began quickly, seemingly out of the blue without any real foundation, and continuing for a few chapters and then ending. I wanted to see their relationship develop in stages to give me time to get to know them and become involve in their affair. Unfortunately, to me it just appeared like they met a few times to sleep together while professing their undying love to each other.

It didn’t help that neither Shakespeare nor Aemilia were characters that I liked. There wasn’t enough time given to Shakespeare in this book to really get to know him and his character. It was just the basics with him: playwright, husband and Aemilia’s lover. So in a sense, there wasn’t enough given to me to form a proper opinion and the more appropriate feeling I have towards him is indifference. On the other hand, I wanted to like Aemilia. Considering in real life, she was considered the first female poet of her times, she would be an interesting character to read about. I think O’Reilly tried to do that, but she came off more as an angry female who blames the world for her plight. Even though her arguments and ideas have merit, the way she presents them makes her sound whiny and snobbish. There is a way in which Aemilia can still champion women’s ability as writers without coming off as a primadona. Not even her love for her child, Henry, and her fight to save him from the plague can make me like her.

The book’s summary captured my attention and made me want to read the book. In some ways that’s the most interesting part of the book. For myself, I never was enraptured with the story. At times it seemed force and didn’t really know what angle it wanted to take (i.e. the demons, witches, and conjuring of said demons within a historical fiction) which made the story seem disjointed to me. My attention often times wandered and I sped read through a lot of the story just so I can get closer to finishing it. When this happens, it doesn’t bode well for the book as is the case with Dark Aemilia.

*Received Advanced Reader's Copy from Goodreads First Reads giveaway

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boldly imaginative romp through Shakespearian past that’s richly evocative

An exquisitely sumptuous story that’s as acutely imagined as Shakespeare in Love and Elizabeth. Seeped in authenticity and delicious detail, this spellbinding novel of Witchcraft and poetry takes you on an unforgettable journey. The intensely passionate and compelling saga of Aemilia Lanyer {the ‘dark lady’ of Shakespeare’s Sonnets} is a romantic tragedy, underpinned by extensive historical research and depth.
This story of the most famous playwright’s muse and his one true love is a heartrending account that tugs and the heartstrings, by leaving you inwardly drained by its impacting resonance. Dark Aemilia will make you gasp in shock and nostalgia for a world one never knew and the erotica within. Profoundly intelligent and effortlessly classy this highly believable work of fiction is a dazzling tale; so darkly magnetic and mysterious!

An assured writer brings Elizabethan London vividly to life on the page, by evoking all the senses and sensuality of the times so acutely. Aemilia is a true heroine whose passionate, fiery nature and drive is so courageous that she faces such dark times headlong with admirable gusto. Theatrical life at the Globe Theatre to the dead-carts and plague-pits of the streets are encapsulated within beautiful descriptions and engaging prose. I was enchanted by this historical read that was intriguing, beguiling and deeply enriching by an author who has shocked and surprised.
The tale of the woman in the shadows is one that will open your mind to Shakespeare’s world, and what it really was like during hard times full of tribulations and strife. O’Reilly’s sharp writing style has a deft, light touch and is full of wit and frivolity despite the serious nature of the subject.

“Past cure I am, now reason is past care,
And frantic-mad with evermore unrest;
My thoughts and my discourse as madman’s are
For I have sworn thee fair, and thought thee bright
Who art as black as hell, as dark as night”

William Shakespeare – sonnet 147

Anyone seeking a sensational read with an engaging protagonist and thoughtful storyline will find this tale a truly enviable edition, which you’ll be desperate to delve into!

* I won a copy of Dark Aemilia by Sally O’Reilly through a Goodreads, first-read book giveaway *

[Chaitra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another book that did not work for me. Dark Aemilia is a fictional portrait of Aemilia Bassano Lanyer, woman poet and it speculates that she was Shakespeare's dark lady. Among other things, it also supposes that she birthed his child, saved it from the plague by calling upon a demon and that she wrote Macbeth and later cursed it with the same demon.

I don't know. It had the makings of a good book - I mean, Shakespeare, the lady poet and the plague. Even the demon would have been good, had I not felt that through the years that the book spans, Aemilia learns nothing. She is not wise, she writes verse that is not good, but she's stubborn to believe that she is both a poet! and wise! and that her wit is undimmed by time! This, right before she makes yet another stupid decision that affects not only her, but everyone around her. This Aemilia is blinded by false pride, her decisions unchecked by anything nearing sense.

There is also the fact that the romance, this true love between Shakespeare and Aemilia is closer to hate and lust and revenge. I know this is how it is supposed to be, considering the sonnets, but if the sonnets were indeed written because of love become twisted, there should have been love in the first place. This book shows none, but tells of an all-encompassing great love. It's really hard to understand any of it if all we know of them is their compatibility in bed. They don't even do pillow talk.

As for Macbeth, there is no historical evidence that Aemilia wrote it. It's good speculation until she curses the production by naming names. She names her neighbor, Tom Flood, as one of the people who stole her play. Not only is this blatantly untrue, but he's also been a very good friend to her. There is nothing about Tom Flood that suggests that he is anything but an upstanding man, and yet she gives his name to the demon. If I was hoping that there was anything good to be found about Aemilia, it vanished with this particular bit of nastiness.

The last portion was the most tolerable one of the whole book. It was too late to relate to Aemilia or Shakespeare, but I did like Ann Shakespeare's portrayal. But in the end, it was not enough to save the book.

I received a copy of this book for review, via NetGalley.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historians have long speculated about Aemelia Bassano. Courtier, Marrano-Jew, half breed, bastard and mistress to Queen Elizabeth's cousin Henry Carey, she may or may not be the 'Dark Lady' of Shakespeare's sonnets. This book takes the position that not only was Aemila the Dark Lady, but she had many dealings with Will (some good, some very diabolical...) and was a major influence in his life and work.

Author Sally O'Reilly says: "I wanted to write about Shakespeare's London as if I was there. If a time machine would have been available, I would have used it."

This book IS a time machine. If you read it, you will know what it feels like to be a woman in the Elizabethan era -- more specifically, a woman of dubious birth and heritage who used her wits and fleeting beauty to rise to a 'position' (The 'position' it turns out, was actually a pretty low, although better than many.) You will feel the rain drenched streets of London, heels sinking in mud, smell the stench of plague and open jakes, which are only warded off by clove stuffed oranges. You will hear the roar of bears in pits nearby the Globe, watch as Moll Cutpurse dares take the stage in men's clothes to beg what may be her last ever coins. You will live at court, feel the cold and royal presence of the Queen as she glides past in gold damask, face powdered white in eggshell. You will know Aemelia's dark, irrepressible lust for Will Shakespeare and the consequences it brings. You will learn the witchery and sorcery of Dr. John Dee and Simon Forman.

Rec'd for fans of Shakespeare, Anglophiles, Elizabethans, Jacobeans, and time travelers everywhere!

I will tell you nothing of the plot. You'll just have to read it for yourself :-)

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

In language that has the feel of Elizabethan times, O'Reilly portrays Aemilia as a whore that has a short time period with Shakespeare and the effects this has on her life. Effects? She has his child Henry to raise, she pines for him and hates what he lets happen to her. Aemilia is not only a whore but aspires to be a poet and writer. Her life is miserable because during the time of the book, 1592-1616, women don't count. She is a feminist before they were acknowledged. She thinks and knows that she has the smarts and education of a man. When she writes men call it doggerel. When she writes the Macbeth play, she doesn't get the credit, Shakespeare does. Men play the parts of women in Shakespeare's time, women don't get to do that.

The book seems like froth at first but it continually proposes: 1. not keeping women from fulfillment
2. the need for education to be put to use.

The book is filled with darkness and gore, the plague, death, primitive beliefs and witching. It is a book that can make one think how lucky we are that we did not live in that hectic time when Catholics and Protestants were in turns reaching ascendency.

Sometimes I thought there were too many words and I skipped lots of them. At other times, I enjoyed the flow of words which went on to make long sentences describing a scene. An example on p 415 is typical of what I mean: "The seething crowd is chatting, munching, singing, dining, gaming, smoking and swigging small beer."

Although the feel of the times is true and Aemilia actually lived, the author says she could find no such connection between Shakespeare and Aemilia.

[Linda (Miss Greedybooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book from GoodReads.

I liked it very much. I wish I liked Aemilia more though. I found myself feeling too often that her stubborn arrogance in her life choices made her circumstances more difficult than they already would be, for a woman in the 1600's.

How different her life might have been, if she had chosen to be kind, a little less obstinate. Maybe she was cursed, maybe she really wanted the outcomes of her choices.

It was well written, and nicely told.

I am glad that I read it.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully Shakespearean! O'Reilly gets the language, clothing and background "spot on". even wonderful curses "...fish-cold arse-wart." and "...pox-groined, foul-nosed, turd-stain?" O'Reilly presents, very well, how women of the 1500s were considered lower than a "turd" on the ground. this is definitely one of my fav historical reads! which very much represents the way women in Afghanistan are treated in 2022. those men have a very medieval mind set! (just finished reading "little coffee shop of kabul")

[Amy Hockenberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read! If you love Shakespeare then you will want to read this book. The beginning grabs your attention right away and slows a little in the middle, but then it picks back up with such force that it is hard to put down.

[Novella Semplici · Rating 1 out of 5]

Uno si aspetta di trovare qualcosa di degno, poetico, storico e invece le prime pagine sono tutte sesso, e sesso descritto in maniera molto fisica e con termini volgari. Per l'amor del cielo. Passo ad altro. Magari poi migliora, ma non voglio rischiare di perderci tempo.
Abbandonato.

[The Irregular Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark Aemilia is rich in historical detail, drawing liberally from the history of the people involved and London itself. The blending of science and magic is nicely done, and fits in well with the nascent scientific process of the era. Ultimately, however, I found the book was unable to keep my attention. Aemilia is an intelligent, educated woman, and historically regarded as Shakespeare's muse. Yet here she is portrayed as some sort of sex-starved, unable to control herself, intellect out the window character. I feel like we are given little reason for Aemilia and Shakespeare to be in love, aside from the historical fact that they were lovers. The Author missed a great opportunity to take the little we know about both Aemilia and Shakespeare and bring us something more than basic romance.

[Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title - Dark Aemilia

Author - Sally O'Reilly

Summary -

It is England, 1592, and there is turmoil in the land. The church divided. Politics, lies and treachery fills the court of the Queen Elizabeth; so that even her favorite, the beautiful Aemilia Bassano, mistress and whore to the aged Lord Hunsdon finds herself in peril. Into this time and into the life of Aemilia, comes the young and gifted playwright, William Shakespeare.

But there is far more to Aemilia than there is to most of the women of the Queen's court. Taught at a young age into the arts and literature. She fancies herself a poet. Aemilia is determined to be more than a mistress to an old man. She wants to be her own woman in a age where no woman is her own, not even the Queen. But there is even more to Aemilia, a darkness that part of her family legacy.

"...I am a witch for the modern age. I keep my spells small, and price them high..."

Aemilia finds a passion with the young playwright that she had not felt with any man before and together they embark on a love affair as powerful as it is hidden. But secret stays forever and soon their loves shows. Aemilia is put away by Lord Hunsdon, married off to a lesser man and in one fateful day, the love she shared with William is torn apart.

"...If you think I do not love you, this is false, and what I did today was-'
'Oh-you say this is false?' He is so close now that his spittle wets my face and I see the blue veins jumping in his forehead. 'Look- I have a new phrase...' He runs to the table, takes up a quill and scribbles fiercely on one of the torn pages. 'Praise God-I am still a writer! Praise him, praise him, the poet lives! Look...' He runs back to me. 'See? See here? What I have wrote-you are still my Muse, Mistress Busycunt...see-"the bay where all men ride"! You see? I have made you into Art! That, that is poetry. Poetry is pain. Poetry is blood and hatred..."

Aemilia, lost without her love, with only her son to fill her heart does not see the danger lurking. Three witches conspiring to take all she has. Desperate she calls on the darkness in her heart and brings forth a power she cannot hope to control.

Review -

Dark Aemilia is an extraordinary novel of the pain and desperation of a beautiful woman in a time when the best she could hope to be is the property of a wealthy man. Aemilia is high spirited and strong but instead of that making her something to want, it instead brings her derision and hate. Even as she falls from heights of Queen Elizabeth, she finds herself disliked by the locals for her education and knowledge.

The novel begins with Aemilia attending a play of Shakespeare's, The Taming of The Shrew. She does not realize at this time that it is a metaphor for her life to come. She does not realize that the strengths she thought she possessed in her beauty and intelligence would be used as her downfall.

O'Reilly does a wonderful job of creating an entertaining tale of England and the difference between the rights of women and men during the late 1500s and into the 1600s. The height of the hypocrisy being that England was at this time ruled by the Queen.

This is a terrific novel, well research and paced. A truly entertaining read.

[Bonnie Ferrante · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books about the Tudor era, especially those involving Shakespeare. This one is definitely one of my favorites. O'Reilly writes from Amelia's point of view. The tone is reminiscent of Juliet but with a mature feminist perspective.

Amelia is nobody's fool. She knows the roles women are allowed to play in her society and they chafe like a hangman's noose. She is a poet at a time when women's writing was denigrated. She has no control over her finances. She is smarter than most of the men she knows, who see this negatively. She rails against the sexism and inequality under which women in Elizabethan times are crushed.

O'Reilly imagines Amelia as the dark lady in Shakespeare's sonnets. She constructs an elaborate, dramatic romantic affair that, as expected, ends in broken hearts. Or does it?

O'Reilly's research is impeccable. Her descriptions of London are vivid and uncomfortable. The devastation and horror brought by the plague will make the reader wince. Some passages are difficult to read. I was a bit surprised when magic appeared about halfway through the book, but O'Reilly makes it work.

The writing style is steeped in Tudor language but still accessible. From the first page to the last, the reader is immersed in a foreign time and place brought vividly to life. As this is a romance at the core, Amelia's angst is suitably dramatic. There were moments when I found Amelia irritating, but then heard humanity, especially her love for her son, would shine through.

This is a Romeo and Juliet for grown-ups. A wonderful read.

[Blodeuedd Finland · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book takes place during different important years during her life.

Aemilia is first the mistress of a powerful man and she had everything. She is happy with her lot in life. But the title already says is and the passion she and Shakespeare share drives them mad for each other. That is the first part of her life. Meeting Shakespeare, and losing it all.

The second part takes place when she is married to a gambler and her old life is long gone. She has a son. She still wants to write. But this was not a time for women, men were the writers. In this part something, well I do not want to call it paranormal, let's just call it witchy, comes over it all. Superstition, needs and wants sets her on a different road. It's a shitty life to be honest. I can feel the smell and dirt that was the early 1700th century. And it was not pretty and people were fools.

The last part, oh I am not gonna say everything that happens.

She was real, if she really was Shakespeare's dark lady we do not know. But I quite like how O'Reilly portrayed it here.

Love, passion, need. Witchcraft, sorcery and poetry. Plague, death and despair. Yes this book really gives us all of it.

[Bekka · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thanks to Edelweiss and Picador for early access to this title.

Meh. Well, one good thing about the book is the cover is kind of cool. This is not a well-written book. I got really tired of the main character telling us how well-educated and intelligent she was, only to have her actions show her to be a complete idiot. I started to dislike her shortly after starting the book, and she never redeemed herself in my eyes. The love affair at the beginning was completely contrived, and very unconvincing. The plot was choppy at best, the characters stereotypical and half-formed. Historical names and events were seemingly thrown in as if the author were checking off a laundry list of "what you should include if you're doing Elizabethan historical fiction." Drowned it all in the author's florid and overly dramatic writing style and you've got a real stinko on your hands. This was almost a "can't finish" book for me. I wouldn't recommend it. There are a lot of books on this same subject and in this same time period which are worth the reader's time. Don't waste it reading this.

[Kirstian · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Aemilia: A Novel of Shakespeare's Dark Lady By Sally O'Reilly

Young Aemilia Bassano, once the Mistress of Lord Hunsdon, and then purported "Muse" and true love of William Shakespeare. She was part of Queen Elizabeth's court, lover of poetry and a feminist way before her time. She struggles to make a name for herself, raise her son, and live life to its fullest.

An intriguing plot, with a tough, determined protagonist. Aemilia is head-strong and rebellious, a woman who knows what she wants and is not afraid to go for it. Which by all means was almost unheard of (for women) or this Era. With attention to detail and engaging dialog, I found myself pulled back into time as if I were part of the story.

Overall I found Dark Aemilia: A Novel of Shakespeare's Dark Lady, an intriguing, enjoyable read and feel others will enjoy it as well.

[Katia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just could not finished this book.
I love historical novels especially because they teach me so many things I don't know. Being French, i must admit I do not know much about Shakespeare's life and had never heard of Aemilia.
Unfortunately, this book did not meet my expectations : it is full of sex scenes, I did not care about and the language quite disturbed me.

[Alyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Descriptions of London in 1660 so vivid that I spend the past few days worried about getting the plague or stepping in the filth of the streets. The smells even seemed real. Yet I read on because I like the feminist slant of the main character.