For those who don’t know about SPFBO (the Self Published Fantasy Blog Off) – this is a competition created and run by Mark Lawrence.  The competition is now in its tenth year and you can find out more about all the other entrants and judges over on Mark Lawrence’s blog.

I separated my books into three batches which you can find here, here and here.  Having read the first 25% (at least) I’ve chosen five books that I intend to read further before choosing potential semi finalists to pass to the Critiquing Chemist to read. Today I am posting my fifth and final SPFBO review for Smile and Be a Villain by Yves Donlon.

SABAV is a reimagining of Hamlet with magic.  This is very well written and so lovely to read, I really enjoyed it.  I would say that no former knowledge of Hamlet is necessary, I only have the bare basics of the story personally and I didn’t feel that this suffered as a result.  I would also mention that this is only the opening gambit that provides a thoughtful backstory and concludes more or less where the play begins.  It’s well done and cleverly thought out.

As the story starts Hamlet is being sent to Wittenberg, in shame after being discovered in a compromising situation.  Here he is expected to study and before long he’s made friends with two characters who he spends most of his time with, Rosencrantz and Guildendtern.  His new friends beguile Hamlet with their knowledge of magic and begin to show him the basics although you can sense that they were rather careful with exactly how much they shared.  Meanwhile, back at Helsingør, Ophelia is also suffering, the Queen has cast her off in shame and on top of that she’s really struggling to cope with the Corruption that seems to be overcoming the castle, constantly renewing wards in a bid to overcome the dark tendrils that are encroaching and nipping at everyone’s heels.  Added to this there is tension and war is brewing.

What I really enjoyed about this.

I thought the writing, the dialogue and the set up were excellent.  I found myself simply enjoying the read just for the joy of reading.  I wouldn’t say that there’s an over abundance of description but I had no struggle imagining the set up.  Ophelia and Hamlet are the narrators, I enjoyed this aspect of jumping between the two and also it gave us eyes and ears in both locations.

The characters come across well.  They have so much more depth here with the time given to explore their inner thoughts and insecurities.  Hamlet, for example, comes across as an indecisive teenager whilst Ophelia comes across as strong willed and determined.  The two share a close friendship and argue almost like brother and sister.  

I really liked the magic.  The Corruption in the castle is a byproduct of too much magic use.  Mirrors can be used as portals to other magical places and this is an element that I really enjoyed.  On top of this there are little asides, such as one of the characters who has a hidden object with an interesting backstory.  Hamlet in particular is absorbed by the need to know more about the magic and his heedless rush to find out whatever he can puts him in a predicament that almost sends him crazy.

In terms of criticisms.  I think I would have liked to know more about the magic and the Corruption.  Helsingør seems to be almost overrun with dark tendrils which makes me wonder just who is using enough magic to create so much byproduct.  I would also mention that this is not a short and snappy read.  It comes in around 500 pages, but, again, I didn’t have an issue with that personally.  I liked the style of writing and was quite immersed. 

In conclusion, this was a really good read and I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next.

I received a copy from the author, for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.

My review for Fortitude’s Prize by Ceril N Domace, The First Assignment by Billy Kramer, River of Crows by NP Thompson and Touched by Magic by Celine Jeanjean can be found here, here, here. and here.