The Dark Lady

Written By Miriam Hanna

The Dark Lady by Akala

Reviewed by Mimi
📘📘

Thank you @hachetteuk for this copy!

This piece of young adult fiction follows the story of Henry, a 15-year old thief of African descent who has a linguistic gift in the Elizabethan era, in the time of Shakespeare. He is caught by a wealthy Lord who discovers this gift and uses it to his own ends.

As a piece of young adult fiction, this was an easy read. I wasn't as bought into the story and the adventure element as I expected to be. I thought there would be more theatrical runs through markets, sword fights and mystery. It felt a bit too metaphorical and when I actually tried to figure out what was going on, the story had moved in a different direction. I am a bigger fan of Akala's non-fiction.

Miriam Hanna

Aka Mimi. I have known Linda for a very, very long time. We grew up together and you learn very quickly that when she gets an idea in her head, you would be an idiot not to back her to see it through. When the idea of the book club came up it was another lightbulb moment where I knew this wasn't only going to be a success but really fun.


I have always been a bookworm. Remember when you were little and you went shopping with your mum or dad and they gave you a toy or something to occupy yourself with whilst you were in the trolley? I used to get books to keep me quiet. They were and are my ultimate form of escapism and more and more they are about understanding who I am as a person. Books make me cry more than films and TV Shows. I can get lost for hours. I love historic fiction, political thrillers and gritty crime novels but also biographies and memoirs of people I find interesting like sportspeople. I was fortunate to be in the Harry Potter generation and if weren't for those books I don't know what I would have. Young literature was so poor at the point. To have a book that had me and my family queuing up at midnight to buy was seriously special.

Whether you listen to audio books, read off a kindle or stick to carrying around good old fashioned hard copies (that's me!) I truly believe reading is the best way to spend some time every day.


The books I would have with me on a desert island? 📚🏝Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Akzaban, Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, The Chimp Paradox by Steve Peters, The Power by Naomi Alderman, Mom & Me & Mom by Maya Angelou, Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian, Born a Crime by Trevor Noah and The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.

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