by Emily Hayse
publisher’s synopsis
After a devastating wound and the loss of his beloved father, Hakkr is trying to pick up the pieces of his life. But when his father’s last conquest, a mysterious thrall, shares a terrible secret, Hakkr’s life only further unravels as incident after incident leads him to the chilling realization that his people’s enemies are not the only ones who want him dead.
Set in a wild northern world of wolf-hunts and Viking warfare, Kill the Dawn is a breathtaking new retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, full of heart, beauty, and bittersweet sacrifice.
Hamlet meets the vikings in this wintry tale from Emily Hayse.
This is one of those books I think will be richer the second time around. Now, that isn’t to say anything bad about Kill the Dawn–rather, the opposite. I can just tell that Emily has written so many layers into this story that I’m going to notice more on a reread, which is a good thing. 🙂
First off, I knew pretty much nothing about the plot of Hamlet going into Kill the Dawn. And I personally think that a good retelling makes you interested in the original story, which Kill the Dawn did.
As always, Emily’s prose is beautiful and refreshing to read. It did feel a little bit more “removed” (if that makes sense) in Kill the Dawn than in her other novels, but it fit the feeling and vibes of the story.
Kill the Dawn is a book that sticks in your mind, leaving you thinking about it. It’s about sacrifice and honor, with a bittersweet ending that might leave you aching for a little bit more time in this world.
Cautions: light romance; two kisses; non-graphic violence
I received an eARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Hailey Huntington 
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