Skip to product information
1 of 1

CROOKED LANE BOOKS

The Two Wills

The Two Wills

Regular price €19,99
Regular price €19,99 Sale price €19,99
VAT included
Sale SOLD OUT
Product Type:
Product Line:
Author:
Cover by:
9798892426572
ISBN:
9798892426572
Pages:
352
Language:

Release Date:
Oct 20, 2026

Reserve

Please log in to reserve products in reserved baskets.

Log in
View full details

Collapsible content

ABOUT

From the USA Today bestselling author of Disco Witches of Fire Island comes a stunningly beautiful queer love story for fans of Hamnet and The Song of Achilles.

It’s the late sixteenth century, and eighteen-year-old Willy Hughes is still heartbroken over the loss of his first great love, Barnaby Stubb. He’s also desperate to escape his impoverished existence. To survive, beyond mucking out the toilets for pennies, he cons drunken men into believing he’s a beautiful young woman—then robs them of their purses.

Willy’s hope for a brighter future appears doomed until a newly famous poet (also named William) spots Willy in an alehouse and asks him to join his acting company. Willy is instantly smitten and determines to see if the poet’s heart might be open to a love that dares not speak its name.

Alas, the poet Will has a wife and a mistress and says he’s only interested in Willy as an actor. But why does he look at Willy that way?

Despite being untrained and illiterate, Willy quickly rises to fame on the stage, creating the roles of Juliet, Rosalind, and Cleopatra. Soon, the private love sonnets arrive, and Will’s romantic ambiguity is driving Willy mad. Is he made differently than Willy thought? Or is it that mistress who’s blocking Willy’s quest to possess the poet? Or the poet’s wife? And what happens when a sexy rival poet by the name of Christopher Marlowe comes knocking on Willy’s door?

Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s theory of Shakespeare’s sonnets, The Two Wills explores romance in all its forms, both on the page and between the lines, where no love is ever really lost—especially when you are the “master mistress” of the greatest writer in history.

STANDARD, PRIMARY, DM AND VARIANT COVERS

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

PRODUCT TYPES

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

  • Large, hardcover collections
  • Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
  • Typically 800-1000+ pages
  • Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

  • Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
  • Collect shorter runs or story arcs
  • Usually 300-600 pages
  • Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

  • Standard-sized hardcover books
  • Collect 6-12 issues typically
  • Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
  • Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

  • Softcover collections
  • Standard comic book size
  • Usually collect 4-6 issues
  • Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

  • Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
  • Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
  • Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs