A Rose by Any Other Name

From the author of The Book of Gothel comes the lush, magical story behind Shakespeare's sonnets, as told by one of his most famous subjects—the incendiary and mysterious Dark Lady.

England, 1591.

Rose Rushe’s passion for life runs deep—she loves mead and music, meddles with astrology, and laughs at her mother’s warnings to guard her reputation. When Rose’s father dies and a noble accuses her and her dear friend Cecely of witchcraft, they flee to the household of respected alchemists in London. But as their bond deepens, their sanctuary begins to feel more like a cage. To escape, they turn to the occult, secretly casting charms and selling astrological advice. This thriving underground business leads Rose to fair young noble Henry and playwright Will Shakespeare, and so begins a brief, tempestuous, and powerful romance—one filled with secret longings and deep betrayals. 

In this world of dazzling masques and decadent feasts, where the stars decide futures, Rose will write her own fate instead.

About the Author

Mary McMyne is a novelist, poet, and former English professor who is fascinated with the stories behind stories and the portrayal of women in history, folklore, and literature. She is the author of The Book of Gothel and a poetry chapbook Wolf Skin, which won the Elgin Chapbook Award. A graduate of the New York University MFA program, she has won the William Faulkner–William Wisdom Award for a Novel-in-Progress and has received a grant from the Sustainable Arts Foundation, among other honours. She is the poetry editor for Enchanted Living.

Reviews

"McMyne 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... A satisfying alternate history that fits the facts without being limited by them. This is an impressive feat."―Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The original world that McMyne has created shines. Her descriptions of magic are rich with heavy, cloying scents and skin-tingling sensations. Her streets feel full of possibility and danger. And Rose and her imperfect, wild compatriots seem to spring from the page. A captivating blend of forensic literary analysis and dark magic, A Rose by Any Other Name is a fascinating exploration into the world of 'what if.'"―BookPage

"A Rose by Any Other Name is a sensual and witchy look at Shakespeare’s England, as well as a compelling and singular take on the Bard himself. Rose blazes to life, stepping from the shadows cast by Shakespeare’s (in)famous Dark Lady as an exceptional heroine in her own right, one who is determined to forge a life as an independent woman by any means necessary. Mary McMyne has crafted a masterful tale full of magic, poetry, and intrigue that will keep readers turning the pages into the dark of the night.―Alyssa Palombo, author of The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel

“The Dark Lady of Shakespeare’s sonnets comes to life in Mary McMyne’s clever and captivating sophomore novel.  A perfect blend of the historical and supernatural, A Rose by Any Other Name is a twisty, atmospheric reimagining of one of the most mysterious women in Shakespeare lore. Both fresh and gripping, this is the must-read romantic historical fantasy of the summer.” ―Constance Sayers, author of A Witch in Time

Dimensions: 15.24 x 2.46 x 23.24 cm