Any Man So Daring: 6

I finished reading _Any Man So Daring_ right after the previous book in the series, _All Night Awake_. (The first book, _Ill Met by Moonlight_, I read some time ago and don't remember as well.) Both books are good; interesting takes on Shakespeare and his era, and full of action. But, they share a common flaw. The major characters are all often conflicted as to their feelings, their views of other characters, their motivations, and the decisions they must make. That's not inherently a flaw; indeed, it could enhance dramatic tension. But in these books it doesn't. Every major character has one central conflict. Every single time he/she experiences it (which is often), the author includes a full page of recapitulation of the character's conflict and situation, in one-sentence paragraphs rather like a list. The list is usually about the same as when the last time that character's conflict was described. This ends up being highly repetitive. Then there are frequent recapitulations of the plot earlier in the same book and previous books in the series.These two books would have been improved by the author showing the characters' feelings, conflicts, etc. mostly through dialog and action. Instead of endless lists of their internal feelings and the author's recapitulation of their situation.

Christopher Marlowe was considered the leading playwright of the sixteenth century until he dies. His mantle after a brief vacuum passed on to William Shakespeare, who has problems coping with fame now that the Elizabethan court recognizes his talent. He knows that Marlowe's death and his own dealings with the Elven king Quicksilver were the catalyst. He deeply regrets the price feeling he lost more than he gained by his encounter with the elves and remains haunted by Marlowe who Will knows died at the hands of a malevolent essence.William learns that his son Hamnet has been abducted in the elven forest. Distraught the playwright concludes that Quicksilver kidnapped his son. When he races to the woods near his hometown of Stratford to confront Quicksilver, he finds out that his nemesis is innocent, but a blood relative of the King has set in motion a plot to take over the throne. Will William and Quicksilver partner to save a lad and a throne or is the past too much to overcome?The third Shakespeare fantasy tale retains all the fun, excitement, and magic of its delightful predecessors (see ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT and ALL NIGHT AWAKE). The story line is action-packed and the cast (historical human, literary human, elven, and other supernatural creatures) is fascinating. Readers see a wildly different Shakespeare from the legendary author as he struggles with the otherworldly, what happened to his friend and rival, and now his son. Sara A. Hoyt brings new meaning to the Bard as she provides a delightful Elizabethan fantasy thriller that demands more such tales (Canterbury anyone?).Harriet Klausner