A misunderstood thespian stops at nothing to obtain a lead role in this modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Richard III. . . .Through a narrative format that shifts between the first and third person, moves forward and backward in time, and incorporates prose, play scripts, and even a musical score, Rory’s numerous misdeeds are revealed. . . Reimagining Richard III as a toxic theater kid rather than a crown-hungry noble is thought provoking. . . . Sensationally tragic.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
A teen thespian launches a Machiavellian campaign to land a starring role in this fiendish Richard III homage from Eagar. . . . With myriad metafictional flourishes, the tale unfolds in five acts in third-person-present narration, which Eagar intercuts with scenes written like script excerpts, fourth-wall-breaking monologues from Rory, and even a musical score. An intersectionally diverse cast of nuanced characters adds depth; Rory, in particular, is a sympathetic antihero whose pain, desperation, and loneliness color every deed.
—Publishers Weekly