Young Writers Society

"Ill Met By Moonlight" is the first in a series of fantastic books by Sarah A. Hoyt detailing the life of one William Shakespeare and his contact with the world of the faery. Born a poor glover's son, Will is scarcely the sort of man one would imagine as a poet, let alone the greatest author in history; married at nineteen, now with an infant daughter, he is a dedicated husband and father, and works for meager pay as a petty schoolmaster in a nearby town. Or, he did - until the day that his wife, Nan, and his daughter, Susannah, disappeared. Desperate to recover his beloved family, Will must now seek out the hill people, who live in the nearby forest, and rescue his loved ones from a corrupt King, in the process earning the love of a faery of royal blood and becoming entangled in a daring plot for vengeance.

Summary:

SCENE: A world not of this world, but in it - where a transparent palace hangs suspended in midair and tiny fairies twinkle here and there...where a traitorous king holds court before elven lords and ladies...and where fantastical tragedies and capricious romances reach out and entangle mortal souls...

ENTER: William Shakespeare

(courtesy of http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0441009832/ref=sib_rdr_bc/102-2186227-6392140?%5Fencoding=UTF8&p=S08K#reader-page at Amazon.com)

This is an original and beautiful novel, as well as intriguing speculation on the origin of Shakespeares' "dark lady". Using plots, quotes and situations found in many of Shakespeare's best-loved plays, "Ill Met By Moonlight" weaves an incredible tale of two worlds that intertwine only briefly, and usually with disastrous consequences for all involved. Hoyt creates vivid characters and deep, moving conflicts, breathing life into the 'lost years' of one of the world's greatest authors and adding new insight into the possible sources of the Bard's inspiration. Definitely a must-read for lovers of Fantasy or Shakespeare who are over thirteen.

For those who have read and enjoyed this book, it is followed by "All Night Awake" and "Any Man So Daring".

My rating: out of 5