Thoughts Be Bloody

Dive into a dark academia fantasy novel that reimagines Shakespeare's Hamlet through a queer and trans lens. This gripping story explores themes of classism, identity, and revolution, making it a must-read for fans of R. F. Kuang’s Babel and S. T. Gibson’s An Education in Malice.

The narrative follows Horatio Bithersea, a struggling student at Elsinore, a prestigious magical university. His life takes a dark turn when Carson Hamlett, the university's golden boy and a master magician, is found cradling his father's dead body. Despite the mysterious circumstances and the bloody scene, the professor's death is ruled an accident. A year later, Horatio is cursed by the ghost of Hamlett's father, alongside Hamlett himself, to avenge his death by destroying Elsinore. This quest forces Horatio to confront his own identity, his magical abilities, and his complicated relationship with Hamlett.

• Queer, trans retelling of Hamlet
• Explores classism, identity, and revolution
• Dark academia fantasy setting
• Features magic and a cursed quest

• Author: Auden Patrick
• Publisher: DAW Books
• Publication Date: September 15, 2026
• Language: English
• Print Length: 368 pages
• Binding: Paperback
• Dimensions: 13.74 x 2.44 x 20.93 cm
• Weight: 312 g
• ISBN-10: 0756420474
• ISBN-13: 978-0756420475

Will Horatio succeed in destroying Elsinore, or will Hamlett's dark charisma prove to be his undoing?