Reviews

Ophelia by Lisa M. Klein

rike125's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lpfutter's review

emotional medium-paced

5.0

elrinixis's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

yasamanvf's review

relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

50bookgoal's review

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

chicks2024's review

emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

annasam's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

So so so good! Hamlet is my favorite Shakespeare play, and Ophelia is one of my favorite characters. This book does a wonderful job of adding to this story while remaining faithful to the source material. Also, the prose is absolutely fantastic and feels incredibly genuine to the time period it is set in. I read this book because I watched the movie Ophelia (2018) and I was not disappointed. This book is so sweet and the romance between Hamlet and Ophelia feels authentic even if it does come about rather quickly. Loved it, can’t recommend it enough for lovers of Shakespeare!

engelwilliams's review

adventurous hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.5

orangesareevil's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

3.25

elizabeth_juliet's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Ophelia was such a relatable heroine! I absolutely loved this book,

and am so glad Ophelia got her happy ending, even if it wasn’t how she had planned

Ophelia was just a naive 16 year old maiden that fell in love with the prince of Denmark. In an instant, she is swept up into a world of riches, and wonderful books, and quickly becomes the queen’s favorite. However, behind the castle’s beautiful facade, sinister plotting fills the corridors. Because of the royal family’s disapproval of her relationship with Hamlet, Ophelia and Hamlet pretend to go insane. As the lines between fiction and reality blur in Ophelia’s relationship with Hamlet, and royal court tensions rise, Ophelia must make the decision between staying by the side of the man she thinks she loves, and saving her own life.

A phenomenally written book that I devoured in one sitting when stuck in the middle seat in a plane. Could not recommend more for all fans of Lisa Klein’s writing (her other books are just as great!) and historical Shakespeare retellings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Murder

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Death

Minor: Sexual content and Sexual harassment

There a few brief mentions of sexual harassment,

and an unplanned pregnancy is a major plot point in the later part of the book. Because this is a Hamlet retelling, there are details of Opheila’s (fake) suicide