Unlock the Secrets of a Queer, Trans Hamlet Retelling: Exclusive Cover & Excerpt Inside!

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At TopMob, we hold the conviction that Pride Month transcends its 30 days in June. We firmly advocate for incorporating queer representation into any and every form of media whenever feasible. That’s why we’re thrilled to unveil a unique cover reveal for “Thoughts Be Bloody,” a queer, trans adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” penned by Auden Patrick. This time, Horatio takes center stage in this captivating tale. Additionally, the book promises a delightful blend of dark academia, magic school, and profound longing. We are absolutely bursting with anticipation! And for those who share our excitement, we’ve also included an exclusive excerpt below to offer a glimpse into the eerie and haunted corridors of Elsinore, where you’ll find fantasy, murder, and heart-stopping romance.

(Spoiler alert, it’s Horatio/Hamlet. Yes, all your English class fanfic dreams ARE coming true.)

Thoughts Be Bloody Exclusive Cover Reveal

If the idea of a modern retelling of Hamlet, or more explicitly, a queer interpretation of Shakespeare’s works, doesn’t already pique your interest, then our exclusive unveiling of its cover should certainly grab your attention. At first glance, we were smitten with Thoughts Be Bloody’s captivating, ominous, and breathtakingly beautiful cover design. In fact, the thought of owning this book is primarily driven by a desire to showcase it as a piece of art on our shelves. A hearty congratulations go out to artist Aykut Aydogdu and cover director Jenna Stempel-Lobell for their exceptional work. While there are numerous eye-catching elements in modern book releases, such as gilded edges or 3D printing, Thoughts Be Bloody’s cover stands out effortlessly with its timeless elegance.

This “Thoughts Be Bloody” cover exudes a distinctly queer vibe reminiscent of Hamlet, foreshadowing the dark events, the impending bloodshed, and the delicate balance between life, love, and mental stability. Shakespeare was fond of incorporating bird symbolism, and it’s wonderful to see that motif reimagined here. Moreover, Horatio is undeniably attractive in this “Thoughts Be Bloody” cover, and we can’t help but be drawn to it as we delve into the story. (Get a sneak peek at the Hamlet visuals!)

Thoughts Be Bloody Exclusive Prologue Excerpt

Discussing books… Are you eager to delve into the first novel by Auden Patrick, titled “Thoughts Be Bloody”? This work is characterized as a captivating reinterpretation of Hamlet set in a magical academy, promising to resonate with every drama enthusiast while leaving readers on edge, anticipating the presence of spectral entities lurking nearby. In this novel, we encounter two main characters: Horatio Bithersea, a pragmatic individual, and Carson Hamlett, a radiant figure, as they navigate their years at Elsinore, an enigmatic magical school. If you enjoy stories about magic schools and a hint of murder, then this could be the book for you! Here’s a sneak peek from the prologue of “Thoughts Be Bloody”:

Prologue

I wasn’t the first to find the body, but I was the first to find Carson Hamlett.

At Elsinore University, there’s room for a thousand students, but just two hundred were present when I began, with even fewer remaining during breaks. The summer following my freshman year was quiet, as I couldn’t return home; only those living ordinary lives prior to college, along with professors and their families in nearby cottages, were permitted to stay. I’d rise early during those days, exploring the deserted campus, which felt strange without the usual crowd of students. If not for visiting the kitchens for meals, I might have spent the summer there all alone, avoiding any encounters with others. However, on my way to browse new books in the library, I heard a sound – a heartrending wail, shrill and piercing.

Upon seeing the blood-stained fingerprints on the doors, I found myself hesitantly pushing them open, the weight of anticipation growing heavy within me like a leaden knot in my gut.

In the library, a large quantity of blood soaked into the wooden floor, making my shoes damp and slippery as I unwillingly advanced. The path of blood led me to where Carson Hamlett was kneeling, tenderly holding a body that turned out to be already lifeless and rigid.

Instead of calling it “the body,” you should note that it was previously much more than just a physical form; it was a man filled with aspirations, feelings, and dreams – and he was someone’s dear son.

There is still a stain there. You remember it. Carson Hamlett held the body to his chest.

He wept intensely, as if a crucial part of him had been taken away. His hands were stained red, clinging desperately to the face of the lifeless form, pleading for its return or a miracle from someone – anyone. But there was nothing I could do. No one could at that hour. I stood just as motionless and powerless as the body itself.

Instead of calling it “the body”, let’s say I’ll refer to it as the remains; to admit that at one point, it was a part of something human, something like King Hamlet, would imply an ending for him, but for me, it signifies a fresh start.

Hamlett, my soon-to-be-roommate, held the body and screamed with all the air in his lungs.

I stood motionless until a medical staff member from the infirmary shoved me aside, triggering a flurry of activity. The world seemed to spin as I came to understand a crucial truth: Hamlett wasn’t flawless anymore. Hamlett was incomplete. Hamlett was, in some small way, more like me.

Something had been taken from him, making him less godlike. Now he was mortal, like the rest of us.

Grief is an unexpected experience; it’s something you think you understand until it actually touches your life. I believed I knew what grief meant before, but the feeling now surpasses anything I experienced then. I thought grief was just intense pain, like a knife in the chest, something sharp and immediate that would cause great discomfort yet pass quickly. Now, I realize that grief is more like an ocean. It seeps into your being, fills your lungs, and pulls you under. You can flail and resist, but the ocean of grief will eventually overpower you. The longer you fight it, the deeper you sink. The weight of it, the pain, is crushing unless you learn to adapt and survive beneath its surface. For a long time, Hamlet struggled to stay afloat after his father’s passing.

I apologize, my past seems jumbled and unclear, or perhaps my future is shrouded in confusion. Regardless, everything feels disorganized and chaotic. I’m struggling to make sense of it all, but I am doing my best to arrange the events in their proper order so you can recall them accurately.

Understand? Please listen. It starts like this:

The elements are all there – Gothic setting, chills down the spine, hearts pounding faster than ever. And yet, amidst the terror and uncertainty, sparks of something beautiful begin to ignite. Indeed, Thoughts Be Bloody doesn’t disappoint with its thrilling prologue that leaves us gasping for breath. In just a few short pages, we find ourselves completely engrossed in this captivating tale. The atmosphere of the school is palpable, the tension is almost tangible, and the connection between Hamlett and Horatio hints at something deeper. To put it simply, we are well and truly hooked on this story.

In this part of Thoughts Be Bloody’s prologue, we are deeply moved by the captivating language and vivid imagery. It is like saying that sorrow is an immense ocean. You inhale it, it fills your lungs, it pulls you under. You may kick and fight, managing to get a moment of air, but the grief, this vast ocean, will eventually overpower you. You won’t even recognize which way is up anymore, and you’ll keep sinking deeper, thinking you’re fighting it when really you’re only going further down. The weight of it all, the water, the pain, will crush you unless you learn to breathe underwater. After the death of his father, Hamlet spent a long time drowning. We can only hope that Horatio might serve as a life jacket for him.

To read or to read? That is the question.

Thoughts Be Bloody‘s Full Synopsis, Release Date, and Pre-Order Information

After catching a glimpse of the cover for “Thoughts Be Bloody”, which offers a peek into its storyline with the prologue, here’s some additional information about this modern take on Hamlet. The book is set to be released on March 24, 2026, and it is currently available for pre-order on platforms like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and several other online retailers.

You can read Thoughts Be Bloody‘s full synopsis below:

In the summer preceding his sophomore year, Horatio Bithersea encounters Carson Hamlett, a renowned student magician and son of a professor, holding his father’s lifeless body in Elsinore University’s library. Despite the enigmatic circumstances surrounding the death being declared an accident due to its bloody aftermath, everyday life at this prestigious magical institution continues as usual.

A year has passed, and I’ve been doing my best to fly under the radar, aiming to graduate without my unruly magic causing harm to my fellow students. However, that all changes when the spirit of Hamlet’s father materializes, casting a curse upon both me and Hamlet: avenge his demise by bringing ruin to Elsinore and its core, or risk losing our minds, memories, and even our souls to this vengeful ghost.

In Elsinore, Horatio found knowledge about his magical powers, a means to flee from his oppressive family, and the chance to live authentically as a transgender man. Unfortunately, it seems that this very place is destined for ruin, with Horatio now caught up in Hamlet’s intricate and ominous trap. As they delve deeper into Elsinore’s hidden truths, Horatio finds himself increasingly entangled within the enigmatic and captivating grasp of Hamlet.

The real issue isn’t whether Horatio can demolish Elsinore; it’s about whether Hamlet will get to him before he does.

Magic school, queer Hamlet—here we come!

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2025-07-08 19:06