Who was the real architect of the Gunpowder Plot? Who was the first person to wear a Guy Fawkes mask? Why was Shakespeare’s Dark Lady dark? These and many other questions are answered in Graham Holderness’s new novel, which combines historical fiction, psychological mystery and supernatural thriller in a highly original and imaginative re-telling of the Gunpowder Plot. It is 1604. The Gunpowder Plotters are tunnelling under the palace of Westminster, and confront an immovable obstacle. Guy Fawkes travels to Europe to fetch help, and brings back more than he bargained for. Who is the mysterious Dark Lady? Who is the man in the mask? Why is London over-run by a plague of vampires, and who is going to defeat them? From a Westminster vault to a Transylvanian mine, from the crypt of Lambeth Palace to the under-stage of the Globe theatre, Black and Deep Desires takes the reader on a tour of historical, psychological and mythical underworlds, delving deep into some of history’s unexplored corridors, into the secret thoughts of Catholic terrorists, and into the dark wellsprings of Shakespeare’s poetry. In Black and Deep Desires Graham Holderness combines the expertise of an internationally-recognised Shakespeare scholar, the narrative flair of his 2001 novel The Prince of Denmark, and the poetic sensibility that won his verse collection Craeft a Poetry Book Society award.

Is the vampire in Ophelia’s cellar a man she can save, or a monster out for blood? From an early age, Ophelia learned to keep her pets away from her unfeeling scientist father or they would disappear into his laboratory, never to be seen again. When her father unexpectedly returns to their isolated Yorkshire estate with a mysterious box, Ophelia’s suspicions are aroused…but nothing prepares her for the bloody business she finds. Caged in silver and hungry, Salem is out for blood. Someone has betrayed knowledge of vampire existence to humans—but before Salem can discover who, he must escape diabolical experiments seeking the source of immortality. He cannot afford to trust the frustratingly intriguing girl who says she wants to help and smells of orange blossoms. He especially cannot wonder how she would taste. Even though the darkly mysterious Salem insists he has no soul, that he’s dangerous, Ophelia can’t leave him to be tortured. But to help him escape, she must risk her family’s wrath—which may be a bigger threat than the monster in the cell. The supernatural bleeds into Victorian England in this captivating YA gothic paranormal romance novel, perfect for fans of Down Comes the Night, Lakesedge, Erin A. Craig, and anyone who longs to run across a dark windswept moor in a nightgown.

Weyward Macbeth, a volume of entirely new essays, provides innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to the various ways Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' has been adapted and appropriated within the context of American racial constructions. Comprehensive in its scope, this collection addresses the enduringly fraught history of 'Macbeth' in the United States, from its appearance as the first Shakespearean play documented in the American colonies to a proposed Hollywood film version with a black diasporic cast. Over two dozen contributions explore 'Macbeth's' haunting presence in American drama, poetry, film, music, history, politics, acting, and directing — all through the intersections of race and performance.

The adventure and mystery of National Treasure meets the fierce military men of Maya Banks's KGI series in the marshes off the coast of Georgia. Desires run deep and betrayal turns deadly in this thrilling romantic suspense from award-winning author Sharon Wray. Rafe Montfort was a decorated Green Beret, the best of the best, until a disastrous mission and an unforgivable betrayal destroyed his life. Now, this deadly soldier has returned to the sultry Georgia swamps to reunite with his brothers, and take back all he lost. But Juliet must never know the truth behind what he's done...or the dangerous secret that threatens to take him from her forever. It took Juliet Capel eight long years to put her life back together after her husband was taken from her. Now Rafe is back, determined to protect her at any cost, and it's not just her heart that's in danger. The swamps hold a secret long buried and far deadlier than either of them could have imagined. Readers love Every Deep Desire! "Twisty plots, fantastic characters, and pitch-perfect pacing. Fabulous!"—ALLISON BRENNAN, New York Times bestselling author "Phenomenal! ...Filled with action and passion that will leave you breathless."—Joyfully Reviewed "Intriguing, with steamy romance and forbidden love that is sure to draw you in from the beginning."—Fresh Fiction

Lovers of fairytale retellings and folklore will love this fantasy retelling of the child ballad Tam Lin! “Why have you come to Carterhaugh?” Seven years ago, after a mysterious fire and tragedy, Janet’s childhood friend Tam was presumed dead, leaving her desolate. Now of marriageable age, Janet asks her father for the ruined Lane family estate as a wedding dowry. But when she arrives on the water-soaked and blooming grounds of Carterhaugh, she encounters a man who looks eerily familiar. Stranger still, he insists the roses she tries to pick are his. Janet discovers Tam Lane is not dead—he has been trapped by the Faefolk Queen of the Bog, destined for a horrible fate… unless Janet can muster her courage to save her best friend—and perhaps true love—from the clutches of the bog. Come by Water is a standalone fantasy romance novella retelling of Tam Lin, perfect for fans of Robin McKinley and Juliet Marillier. It is the second in the Tales from Karneesia, novellas set in the world of the Karneesia Chronicles.

Brayton Polka takes both a textual and theoretical approach to seven plays of Shakespeare: Macbeth, Othello, Twelfth Night, All's Well That Ends Well, Julius Caesar, Troilus and Cressida, and Hamlet. He calls upon the Bible and the ideas of major European thinkers, above all, Kierkegaard and Spinoza, to argue that the concept of interpretation, underlying both Shakespeare's plays and our own lives, is the golden rule of the Bible: the command to love your neighbor as yourself.

The Unseelie Caverns are closing in on Morwë. The handsome prisoner may be her only way out. The Unseelie faefolk dwell in darkness, consume human life force, and care for no one… except for the half-human daughters of the Erlking. Morwë encases her feelings in walls of ice, only allowing herself to care for her younger sister—and even then, not openly. She navigates hostility from family and acquaintances alike and believes there is no other way to live. But her world is shaken with the abrupt arrival of a prisoner who sees her—in more ways than one. Arken has always placed family first. When his village is attacked and his younger brother stolen, he sets off determined to rescue him. An encounter with faefolk out of stories and spook-tales wasn’t in his plan, and neither is the woman with haunting eyes just as trapped as he is. She’s his enemy. He shouldn’t trust her. But she may be his only hope for salvation. As a forced marriage looms and violence mounts in the caverns, Morwë must choose—acquiesce to the bleak, terrifying future she thought was her only option, or risk everything to escape with the human prisoner and protect their siblings—even if it costs her life. A dark fantasy with slow burn romance, The Erlking's Daughters is perfect for fans of Hannah Whitten’s For the Wolf, Robin McKinley, Kate Stradling, and anyone who loves to see characters move from darkness to light.

Inspire your teaching with Key Stage 3 English Anthology: Shakespeare, a themed anthology for Year 7 through to Year 9. Featuring key extracts from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth, the Anthology guides students through each play, encouraging them to engage with the text to gain a thorough understanding of the context and literary techniques underpinning Shakespeare's work. Each extract is supported by Teaching and Learning Resources, including quizzes, lesson plans and PowerPoint slides to help you implement the content of the book. Each extract includes: - A context panel to provide key information to set the scene of Elizabethan England - Glossaries and annotations to help students work through each extract confidently - Look closely: key questions for students to consider as they work through the extracts - Now try this: writing and speaking activities to encourage students to get creative and actively engage with the text - Fast finisher tasks to support students who race ahead - A practice question to familiarise students with the command words they will see at GCSE

In Shakespeare in Three Dimensions, Robert Blacker asks us to set aside what we think we know about Shakespeare and rediscover his plays on the page, and as Shakespeare intended, in the rehearsal room and in performance. That process includes stripping away false traditions that have obscured his observations about people and social institutions that are still vital to our lives today. This book explores the verities of power and love in Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth, as an example of how to mine the extraordinary detail in all of Shakespeare’s plays, using the knowledge of both theatre practitioners and scholars to excavate and restore them.