A natural storyteller with a vision of his own. THE DARK LADY, Akala's debut novel for teens, will enthuse and entertain teenagers and young adults, showing that reading is a true super-power.

A PICKPOCKET WITH AN EXCEPTIONAL GIFT
A PRISONER OF EXTRAORDINARY VALUE
AN ORPHAN HAUNTED BY DREAMS OF THE MYSTERIOUS DARK LADY

Henry is an orphan, an outsider, a thief. He is also a fifteen-year-old invested with magical powers ...

This brilliant, at times brutal, first novel from the amazing imagination that is Akala, will glue you to your seat as you are hurled into a time when London stank and boys like Henry were forced to find their own route through the tangled streets and out the other side.

An exhilarating, magic-laced adventure * The Observer *
A pulsating read * S Magazine (Sunday Express) *
Authentic * The Financial Times *
One of the most highly anticipated books...the acclaimed rapper/poet takes aim at the historical novel with this inventive page-turner set in a vividly realised Elizabethan London * i newspaper *
Akala's debut novel for teenagers and young adults is going to be a bestseller - remember where you read that first! * The Voice *
The brilliant, at times brutal, first novel from the amazing imagination that is Akala, will glue you to your seat * BellaNaija *
This brilliant and at times brutal debut from the award-winning rapper Akala will have you glued to your seat * Bishop Stortford Independent *
Brilliantly atmospheric debut YA novel...The Dark Lady is a compelling rollercoaster of a journey. It's incredibly atmospheric, you feel transported to the sights, sounds and smells of Shakespearean London, all thanks to the incredibly engaging storytelling of Akala. It's full of guilt, revenge and a little bit of magic, the perfect combination for this sophisticated YA historical novel. You simply won't be able to put this one down. Cue the sequel! * ReadingZone *
I devoured the book in literally a day...You can tell just how much Akala is passionate about language, Shakespeare and poetry as it exudes on every page. * Elf Councillor Blog *
It's a supernatural adventure story...It's beautifully researched, rich with historical detail and real events...Mostly, I enjoyed the sense of Elizabethan London as it rises, redolent, from the pages, and the story, which has plenty of twists and turns and enough magic to draw in every reader. * BookBag *
Written with the kind of lyrical dexterity and power that one would expect from Akala, The Dark Lady references the Bard's sonnets as well as crafting an uncompromising of street life in Renaissance England * All About Ipswich *
The kind of lyrical dexterity and power that one would expect from Akala, painting an uncompromising picture of street life in Renaissance England. The Dark Lady will enthuse and entertain teenagers and young adults, showing that reading is a true super-power. * The British Blacklist *
This debut novel is a fantastic read... find yourself gripped with the characters...This is a book you won't be able to put down! * Young Writers *

Raised in London, Akala is a BAFTA / MOBO award-winning hip hop artist, writer and social entrepreneur. In 2009, he co-founded The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company, a music theatre production company that explores the social, cultural and linguistic parallels between William Shakespeare's works and that of modern day rappers.

He has led many hip-hop Shakespeare youth arts, education and music projects across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Appearing on TV networks globally, he has gained a reputation as one of the most dynamic and articulate talents in the UK, notably with his bestselling memoir Natives, released in 2019.