What a beguiling, intriguing, darkly brilliant novel. Set in Venice and Cyprus, Bianca, a barely mentioned character in Shakespeare’s Othello becomes a lynch pin in the plot. Growing up with Iago in Venice, she sees him like her brother and we learn of the twists, turns, mind-games and deception that lead to the denouement of Desdemona and Othello’s fate.
Women are daughters, wives, despised, manipulated, great beauties and whores in the eyes of the men in the story and a woman of colour, passing as a ‘pale mistress’ is even more of a fascinating read. Author Naomi Kelsey records the slights, asides and visual cues that over time destabilise reason and her Othello is a powerful man who is also only too aware of his fragile status. Race is key in this story and handled with real care and understanding. And the relationships between Bianca and her very lovely mother Barbary were a beautiful and tragic consequence of the erosion that occurs when you trust the wrong person. Bianca is young, beautiful, passionate, impulsive and jealous. She is also immensely brave. The visual descriptions of fabrics, textures, smells and light make this a completely immersive read. If you loved Maggie O’Farrell’s Marriage Portrait you will love this book.

What a beguiling, intriguing, darkly brilliant novel. Set in Venice and Cyprus, Bianca — a barely mentioned character in Othello — becomes the lynchpin of the plot. Growing up alongside Iago in Venice, she sees him almost as a brother, and through her we witness the twists, turns, mind games, and deceptions that lead to the tragic fate of Desdemona and Othello.
Women in this story are daughters, wives, objects of desire, figures of suspicion, great beauties, and whores in the eyes of men. A woman of colour passing as a “pale mistress” makes for an especially fascinating and layered narrative. Naomi Kelsey captures the slights, asides, and visual cues that slowly destabilise reason, and her portrayal of Othello is particularly compelling: a powerful man who is nevertheless acutely aware of the fragility of his position.
Race lies at the heart of the novel and is handled with real care and insight. The relationship between Bianca and her beloved mother, Barbary, is both beautiful and tragic — a devastating illustration of the erosion that occurs when trust is placed in the wrong person. Bianca herself is young, beautiful, passionate, impulsive, and jealous, but also immensely brave.
The sensory richness of the writing — the fabrics, textures, scents, and shifting light — makes the novel completely immersive. If you loved The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell, you will love this book.

I thought I would like this book but I didn’t expect to love it this much!
Full disclosure, these 5 stars are coming from someone who is completely unfamiliar with Othello, but was absolutely hooked by the interwoven character backstories and timelines.
I can only imagine what Shakespeare fans with an existing knowledge of who is who, and who they are to each other, are going to make of it, but for me I thoroughly enjoyed each layer of the story being unveiled.
I’ve done some googling since and understand Bianca doesn’t feature much in the play, which makes me even more impressed with how richly developed she is. I almost can’t imagine the story without her, Naomi does such an excellent job of making it feel like the events revolve around her.
It’s hard to say much without knowing what would constitute a spoiler, the story is rife with villains, betrayals, misplaced trust and misdirections. I loved the writing and the pacing and the use of quotes which added to the story without breaking the flow.
An excellent ‘retelling’ that has made me want to check out the original.

Pale Mistress is a masterwork in atmospheric fiction that blends gothic tension with strong emotional and psychological depth. Naomi Kelsey creates an immersive historical settings in Venice and Cyprus that drew me into a darker retelling of Othello and Desdemona's story with a focus on the women in the play and their relationships..
Bianca, already a foil to the women in the play, navigates power, oppression, and her own identity within a restrictive hierarchy. The reinterpretation provided by Pale Mistress on one of slow-building suspense, rich atmosphere, and character-driven storytelling. The gothic elements, moral ambiguity, and darker subject matter contribute to an unsettling but compelling reading experience. I hadn't previously read any of Naomi's work - I'm looking forward to reading much more.