A Rose by Any Other Name

Starred review from May 27, 2024
McMyne (The Book of Gothel) brings rich creativity, feminist sensibility, and a meticulous grounding in history to her captivating imagining of the life of the Dark Lady, the illusive inspiration for Shakespeare’s later sonnets. Hedonist Rose Rushe is more interested in becoming a court musician than preparing for marriage. Rose’s astrologer father’s unexpected death and an accusation of witchcraft by a powerful noble leads her to flee with her mother and her dearest friend, Cecely, to the household of an old friend of her father, whom they discover has also just died. His heir, Richard Underhill, becomes obsessed with Rose, and her mother hopes to encourage a proposal. Meanwhile, Rose attempts to secure independence by finding her mother’s estranged family in London’s brothels. This quest leads her into a tempestuous erotic connection with the young poet Will Shakespeare, an introduction to his friend Henry Wriothesley, third Earl of Southampton, and, eventually, a secret career as a witch. Rose’s secret romantic devotion to Cecely forms the central love story, but her sensual enthusiasm for and emotional resonance with Will also shines. Rose is a delightfully impish heroine, steeped in music, magic, and a deep urge toward self-determination. McMyne centers Rose’s challenges and successes while weaving her seamlessly into a satisfying alternate history that fits the facts without being limited by them. This is an impressive feat.

Starred review from June 1, 2024
McMyne follows The Book of Gothel (2022) with a fascinating, fictional expose answering the question: Who was Shakespeare's Dark Lady? Raven-haired, dusky-skinned Rose Rushe, a self-proclaimed wild and unruly wench, has the voice of a siren, an uncommon skill with stringed instruments, and a prescient talent for astrology. Daughter of a wise woman and an ill-fated astrologer, she reaches maturity during the latter years of Queen Elizabeth, a time when women are particularly susceptible to any hint of scandal or witchcraft. Knowing she is good enough to play at the Queen's court, Rose is intent on getting to London. When her father dies suddenly and her mother is suspected of witchcraft, Rose and her family flee, seeking shelter in London with the son of a wealthy friend. Desperate for security, Rose's mother casts a spell, coercing her daughter into marrying their host. Furious and trapped, Rose escapes, but without money or noble patronage, wonders how a runaway wife can support herself. A chance encounter with the playwright William Shakespeare may be the answer to her dilemma. A touch of mysticism and an LGBTQ+ twist, intermingled with a variety of historical figures, offer a fresh take on a long-standing literary enigma.

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