i DNF this book unfortunately. i may go back to it, but for now i have to soft dnf, im not sure what exactly made me DNF, it could be the slow pacing or how the writing was, but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me!

I’ll admit upfront—I didn’t finish Lady Macbeth, but not because of the writing. Ava Reid’s prose is, as always, lush, haunting, and utterly atmospheric. The only reason I didn’t see it through is simply that Macbeth has never really been my thing, and that preference carried over here.

That said, what I did read was deeply compelling. The dark, moody vibes are perfect, and Reid brings a bold feminist lens to the story that adds rich layers and nuance to Lady Macbeth’s character. It’s clear she approached the material with depth and intention, and I really appreciated the psychological tension and thematic weight she brought to the retelling.

If you’re a fan of Shakespearean drama and love a dark, feminist reimagining, this one is absolutely worth diving into. Even as someone who didn’t finish it, I can still admire the craft and atmosphere Reid created.

As always, Ava remains an auto buy auto. While this story didn’t quite take the turns I expected, I found myself in awe of nearly every line written.

I will continue to recommend her work to friends, family, and followers — and continue filling my shelves with every edition of her books.

This book was a lot of vibes and little plot, which I like sometimes. This time around, I was a little more than bored and a little confused. I didn’t know anything about Macbeth going into this and maybe that’s a good thing. I had nothing to compare the story to so therefore I had a good time, not a terrible time (from what I hear). Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I will be picking up Ava’s next book!

Thank you netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Lady MacBeth by Ava Reid is a retelling of MacBeth by Shakespeare - which I did not brush up on before reading. The story gives her a first name and explores the facets of her role as a woman in medieval Britain - as a daughter, as a wife, as a friend, as a lady, as a lover. It explores her agency as a woman, and the way in which she is able to undermine the expectations of her situation in order to claim her power for herself. It is a brilliant retelling, in particular the tone and language use makes you feel like you are right there with her.

Something about the pacing was very off to the point where I couldn’t enjoy it, even by the time I was finally intrigued by the plot. This was definitely outside of what I typically read, so I very well could be the problem.

Ava Reid’s Lady Macbeth is beautifully written—super atmospheric, dark, and full of that moody gothic vibe she does so well. I loved how it reimagines the character with a focus on power and womanhood, but I wished Roscille had a bit more fire. She kind of fades into the background when I expected her to take center stage. The pacing dragged a little in spots, and the fantasy stuff (like dragons) felt a bit thrown in. Still, it’s a really compelling, unique take that I’d totally recommend. 4 stars.

I did not finish this book. I got about 30% in and was very bored. I'm so sorry, I keep wanting to like Ava Reid but maybe I just haven't found their book for me just yet.

It pains me to say that this re-telling was just not for me. Unlike Ava Reid previously work, this didn’t feel original or fresh. I am still going to rate it 3 stars purely because she has a way with words that still makes her standout.

4⭐️

<b>If she cannot have safety, if she cannot have love, at least she can have this. Vengeance.</b>

I liked this book a lot! Seeing Roscille’s character grow and the duality of Roscille vs Lady Macbeth was really great. This was well written and entertaining.

<b>Let them call you witch, as they do any woman who professes strength.</b>

Great retelling and absolutely stunning front cover art as well! the writing style suits the vibes of this book and I enjoyed it a lot!

This take on Lady Macbeth is beautifully written and wrapped in an appropriately tense atmosphere. Watching Roscille, the titular lady, sharpen and wield her cunning thought process to manipulate the people around her to survive was satisfying. I also felt for her every time she misstepped or came close to it.

I do wish there had been more. More character development, more relationship development, and more chances to see Roscille truly become the villainess of the original story. I do agree with some other reviewers in that this probably should've been an original story, as the Macbeth retelling angle feels a bit forced.

Overall, I enjoyed it but felt it was lacking in several places. It has, however, encouraged me to read more by Ava Reid.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group & NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5
It may be because I've never seen nor read Macbeth, but this book did not connect with me. I've thoroughly enjoyed Ava's other works. I love how she writes, but this book was confusing. I did like the darker aspects and watching the characters grow.

I have admittedly never read
Macbeth, so I cannot speak to the retelling aspect of this book-only that Ava Reid's writing is as lush and elegant as ever. In some ways, I'm glad I didn't have a direct point of comparison; going in blind allowed me to be fully immersed in the horrors and dark beauty Reid crafts. Lady Macbeth is a story of survival, love, betrayal, and yearning, woven through with eerie magical elements that blur the line between reality and the supernatural. Reid's prose is spellbinding, and the novel builds toward a dark, whimsical, and deeply satisfying conclusion.

This was spooky and genre bending in a way I didn't totally expect and I liked a lot. Not my usual read but the character was engaging and I had fun!!

Love love love all of Ava Reid’s work! In this book she truely plays into a different pov and give us something new and interesting to read while still giving enough of the original inspired text for it to feel new but also familiar! An excellent read!

I don't remember much about Shakespeare's Macbeth other than the movie featured Mel Gibson and Helena Bonham-Carter so I have no idea what Lady Macbeth's role was in the original, but I really enjoyed this fantastical retelling from the perspective of a minor character.

Roscille is used as a pawn to bring an advantage to her father and shipped off to marry Macbeth. She uses her wits to attempt to earn favorable treatment and respect in an era when women are seen as property. Her machinations have an even bigger ripple effect than she expects, so she is constantly having to recalibrate her strategies. She eventually finds some unexpected allies, who give her the ability to save herself when it is needed the most. This is a powerful tale of subjugated women and means they must go to in order to save themselves.

I am a huge fan of Ava Reid, and this did not disappoint.

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC.

Not the most knowledgeable in Shakespeare plays, but even I can tell that this played fast and loose with the original play. And I am all for the 'death of the author' but the choices for the plot and characters made for a dull story and flat characters. Lady Macbeth is a shadow of the powerful woman she was. It's also abnormally prejudiced against the Scottish? How many times do we need to be told that the Scots are giant and brutish compared to the waifish French girl? Its a shame, because despite this it's clear Ava Reid knows how to write good. There is some beautiful prose in here, but it hard to keep that in mind when you don't care about the plot or characters.

This was such a unique and beautifully written story, I loved the deeper perspective and darker themes. I do feel like the plot was slow at times but the authors writing kept me interested.

A mesmerizing and beautifully crafted reimagining of one of Shakespeare’s most infamous characters, with lush prose, a hauntingly atmospheric setting, delivered with a cinematic eye. It might not be for everyone, but it was for me!