Highly recommend ( )

for interesting

In this historical thriller set in 1585 William Shakespeare finds himself attached to a roving band of players. Their lives take a turn for the worse when they are paid to join Sir Henry on his mission to Venice.
A plot that involves a lot of misunderstandings and with a wide cast of characters.
Probably more of a 3.5 star rating but a good solid start to the series.
A NetGalley Book ( )

The young Shakespeare comes, metaphorically, on stage in his native town of Stratford; a young man trapped in a dull profession, a lukewarm marriage and with no prospect of change. However an unwise seduction sends him fleeing to London to avoid the wrath of the local landowner. He is recruited to a troupe of players who are, in turn, recruited to accompany the English Ambassador to Venice. England is in perilous straits as Philip of Spain is determined to stamp out the Protestant heresy. Sir Henry's goal is to recruit the wealthy and liberal city of Venice as trade partner and ally to England. Shakespeare is drawn into dangerous plots and schemes that he is ill equipped to understand or counter. In the course of his adventures he meets women with minds as keen as his own and learns that there is more to love than mere physical conquest. This is a first novel and shows signs of it, but was interesting and leads one to hope for more. ( )

2.5 stars for being pretentious and exhausting to read ( )