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!

I loved this cover of the book and Ava Reid really delivered like she always does! I love recommending her books and I think Shakespearean fans will love as well as fantasy lovers.

It took me a little to get into this book. The writing wasn't my favorite and it was a little slow. I did end up really liking it but it felt rather anticlimactic. The characters were all a little flat for me with no real connection.

if you're going into this expecting a lady macbeth retelling, please turn back now. the whole point of lady macbeth was that she was evil and manipulative, but she's so meek in this one. that's not lady macbeth anymore - that's an oc. the gothic vibes were great, though.

Admittedly, I remember very little from the play, and did not reread it beforehand, preferring rather to do so after.

I think that some of the criticism of this story is because of the staid and historical-fictionesque rhythms, structures, and word usages employed. It reads very differently than most books, and that's always divisive! Going in, be aware that there are some fairly hefty TW that other reviewers have delineated better than I could.

Lady Macbeth retells Shakespeare's Macbeth through Lady Macbeth's perspective. Noting how young she was and her class stature gives perspective on why and how things occurred and lends true perspective to what is good, bad or a matter of survival. It's an interesting and nuanced perspective.

3.5 rounded up. This book was super vibey. Very gothic and atmospheric. Loved that aspect. I will say that having no background in Macbeth was a little challenging, although from what I have gathered, the plot and ending were different anyway. It was hard to keep up with some of the lore, but I think that was mostly because I was listening and reading over a couple of weeks. I think if I had sat down to really read and pay close attention I may have been able to hang with the complex lore slightly more. Overall I really enjoyed it, and I wanted more from the ending. So abrupt! What happened to everyone afterwards??

Another 5 stars - No words on my love for this author and the amazing things she is doing in all her books!

This book wasn't what I expected at all. But I loved it. Las lavandiers were terrifying. It was interesting to see a completely different story then I'd ever heard before. Completely different take on the whole story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid!

I actually thoroughly enjoyed this book, it just took me far too long to read which is why I'm giving it 3 stars. There was never a moment that truly grabbed my attention and made me want to drop everything I was doing and just finish the book, which is why it took me around 2.5 months to finish.

Overall, this was a really compelling read - seeing the story of Macbeth from Roscille's point of view was very interesting! It's been a super long time since I even read the original Macbeth, so there wasn't too much for me to compare it to in my mind, but I liked her character enough and really felt sympathy for her. The story felt too short at times, but other segments seemed to drag out, so pacing was a bit of an issue for me. I think if you're an Ava Reid fan OR a Macbeth fan, then you should definitely pick this one up! Otherwise, you can skip it if you'd like - I think it's still enjoyable, but just not everyone's cup of tea.

Major points to the gorgeous cover though!

i loved the permise of this book so much but i think some things had personally fell flat for me. i thought the pacing was odd and i couldn't personally connect with any of the characters. i did really enjoy the atmosphere and the writing and love the author as well

A sensational new way to read a classic! Ava Reid has a way of turning her tales on their head and making you think in new and interesting ways. I loved the devotion to the source material while also making her own path. This is a sensational read and though some parts do tend to be...inventive, it neither damages nor takes away from the full effect of the novel. I am a new fan of Ava Reid and she is now an instant read author for me!

As with Ava’s other works, as a huge fan, her writing is undeniably stunning. Very lyrical and quotable every time.

This is not for the weak, to frankly speak. I suggest going into it for what it is, a retelling. I think if you’re attached to the original character, you will find faults in this. But I found love for it as Ava took her own spin of the character. Then I’m not too meticulous with retellings, but I can see how this won’t be favorable to others.

This was a tough read, I really wanted to like it but I just could not get over the xenophobia. I this retelling took ALOT of creative authority, which I get but also….

Loved, loved, loved it. Female rage is one of my favorite tropes, and this book was chock full of it. Ate that shit up.

Ava Reid does it again! Lady Macbeth is everything I wanted—lush, haunting, and so beautifully written it hurts. Reid takes one of Shakespeare’s most infamous women and gives her the depth and agency she deserves, crafting a story that feels both timeless and fresh. Her prose is as immersive as ever, pulling you into a world that’s dark, atmospheric, and full of simmering tension. I’d honestly read anything she writes at this point, and this book just solidifies that. If you love her other work, you’re in for a treat.

Ava Reid has such an incredibly magical way of writing - this is my third book by Reid, but absolutely not my last. I knew a Shakepeare retelling would be 100% my vibe, but WOW I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR HOW MUCH I LOVED THIS?! Stunning, start to finish, cover included!

This story was absolutely ethereal and gripping, and I love everything Reid writes, but I’m especially a sucker for a Shakespeare retelling.

DNF’d — unfortunately this was hard for me to truly get into.
One of the main barriers was the fact that it’s not a Macbeth retelling but mostly lends itself to the name. I also felt dis attached from the characters.
However, I enjoyed the medieval vibe and how the author stayed truth to the fact that different names would be pronounced based on their origin and not a universal language.