A stunning and enchanting book.
Truly I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did, it was my first dive into Ava Reid's works and it did not disappoint.
Lady Macbeth drives you in with Roscille, a sweet and innocent girl who is yet to know how the world outside of her home truly works, by the end of this book you are able to see the growth and the change in her character as she spends more time in Glammis.

A watered down, timid version of Lady Macbeth throws a wrench into the OG play in this VERY LOOSE reimagining of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The scene? Miserable. The characters? Miserable. The ending? Largely miserable, but with a twist!



As always, Reid’s writing and prose create such a vivid, gothic, unsettling atmosphere, and did her homework with the level of detail she gives with homage original play. I don’t mind dislikable characters, which Roselle and company certainly were, but the backstory to them was not there for me to care. Roselle has aged backwards, become spineless compared to the Lady Macbeth we know and [love]. Although she occasionally shows intellect and cunningness, it always seems like these events just happen to her, rather than her being the mastermind orchestrating it. The only remarkable thing about Lord Macbeth was his bloody limp. The witches carried the team on their back and tbh I will now be dressing up as a magical sea hag for Halloween, justice for the witches!! They may not be the beautiful topless witches that Sleep No More depicts, but they were arguably better and I loved all scenes with the trio involved. Without going into spoilers, certain traumatizing and character-altering scenes in this book were not treated with the gravitas they deserved and seemed almost off the cuff. This was probably the biggest drawback for me in this story. Overall, I was here for the vibes and the vibes were a home run, but some questionable plot points made for a bumpy road.



<i>Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC! While I didn't enjoy A Study in Drowning, I appreciated Reid's prose and wanted to try out her retelling of Macbeth focused on the titular Lady Macbeth. Unfortunately, I expected a darker, sinister, more clever and cunning characterization - but this book didn't deliver. I have no doubt that other readers will eat this up and it will be someone's five star read, but for me this wasn't quite what I expected and even Reid's gorgeous writing style couldn't help.

Really, really loved this. It was my first Ava Reid book, and I will definitely be picking up her other stuff now. Macbeth is my favorite of the tragedies, and this retelling does it justice and then some. Absolutely beautiful.

I really enjoyed this book! Ava Reid is truly gifted at bringing out the darkness and oddities and Roscille was no exception. I know that this book will be very popular on BookTok and I can't wait to see what others think of it.

Wow, if there’s one thing I love about Ava Reid it’s that she’s I can tell she’s a lil weirdo at heart.
I really loved this book, it’s a great show of Reid’s ability to create incredibly complex characters that you aren’t sure if you should be rooting for or not.

With that being said, the one thing that bummed me out in this book is that it’s a more feminist retelling of Macbeth. In the original Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is usually played by a middle aged/older woman, but here she is replaced with a seventeen year old girl. While Roscille is still girlbossing, gaslighting and gatekeeping her way through this, it’s still obvious that she’s naïve and inexperienced. I understand that it’s a new take on the story, it’s just so rare that we get to see older FMC’s, and I would have loved to see a more matured, conniving Lady Macbeth.

With that said, I still loved the story, and wasn’t bothered by any of the other liberties Reid took. If anything, I loved the mystical/fantasy elements that were added, and am always here for a character who is accused of being a witch.

P.S. Looking through all these other reviews has me terrified for where our media literacy is heading in the generation. I’m seeing a lot of comments saying this book is xenophobic/Reid is xenophobic towards Scottish people because Roscille speaks negatively about the Scots in this book. I think people are forgetting that this is set in the 1600’s and sadly people were prejudiced against others and were ignorant. Just because people are informed about these issues today does not erase that history, and writing from that point of view does not mean that the writer has those beliefs.

A big thank you to Del Ray for selecting little ol’ me to receive an eARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

I absolutely loved the slow burn vengeance and anger that this brings, the feminine rage, the twists of deception laid out like spider web. this was a fantastic take on Macbeth.

thank you Netgalley for allowing me an ARC!

Ava Reid has never written a book that I didn't absolutely love.

The way that she deconstructs old stories, and creates such meaningful commentary about the "role of women" historically always stuns me.

I haven't read the original play, but I'd say this book was infinitely better!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

I would give Lady Macbeth 10 stars on this page if I could. I love this book soo much. This story given to Lady Macbeth is heartbreaking and captivating at the same time. I could not put this book down. The world created is so brutal and yet Lady Macbeth does not back down. As she must face the cruel Macbeth. Reid’s writing is stunning and will stay with me for a long time. This is a must-read for Ava Reid fans.

Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid
Rating: 4 ⭐️’s

This was my first read by Ava Reid and I was so happy when they announced it was a retelling of one of Shakespeare’s works. I was one of those people who dove into his work after the mandatory reading of Romeo & Juliet in high school. Although Macbeth was one I was enthralled by when I was younger, so I won’t do much comparing.
*
Reid’s writing pulled me in immediately! It made me feel like I was actually Lady Macbeth- Roscille, in the castle suddenly being picked up by men who strip off my shoes, quickly shivering from the ice cold water being thrown on my bare feet. Likewise, I was constantly uncomfortable because I felt like I was experiencing Roscille’s pain and struggles. Given her age of seventeen and her encounters with conflict or need to be cunning being close to none, I felt Roscille was portrayed as a strong feminist source. She knew she had to learn skills to protect herself and position she was in. Even though we got a lot of schemes and manipulations not playing out the way she had wished, she showed her adaptive and cunning instincts and her unwillingness to be a victim to men.
*
In the beginning I often found myself rooting for Macbeth, hoping that maybe he was a misunderstood character. That immediately changed when he took unconsented advantage of Roscille. I did feel like Reid was a little harsh in her descriptions of the Scottish men as a whole, repeatedly describing them as brutal ,uncaring, etc. I assume it was to justify Roscille’s actions, to give her a greater danger and fear to what she had to endure. Still, it seemed just a tad too much.
*
The speed of the book was okay to me until the end. I was happy with the actual events that occurred, just not the rushed execution of it all. And because of the hastiness the events that lead to the conclusion almost felt given. I would have been happier if we got a real chance to see the worth of all these moments of outwitting, cleverness, and bravery we’ve seen from Roscille. Instead of just an “aha” moment and silly mistakes made from the antagonists.
*
In all, I did enjoy the book and the immersive experience I got from Reid’s writing. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

3.75 stars. I was a theatre major in college, and while that doesn't mean anything in the real world, it DOES mean that I've had my fair dose of Shakespeare. MACBETH is one of my favorites and Lady Macbeth is probably my favorite character - her "OUT DAMN SPOT" speech is top tier and her descent into madness is fascinating to witness. Sidebar, I was lucky enough to see Frances McDormand play her a few years ago at Berkeley Rep and that performance will forever live rent free in my mind. All this to say, I was rather curious to see Ava Reid's treatment of the Bard, especially because I've heard such great things about A STUDY IN DROWNING. LADY MACBETH is my introduction to Reid's work, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I was extra excited to read this one and the gorgeous cover sucked me in immediately. It's a work of art and momma that neon-pink font sealed the deal, I had to read it.

A reimagining of MACBETH could go in a million different directions, but Reid utilizes her command of language and dark atmospheres to craft a moody study on gender politics, feminism and self-discovery. Ava said, "I'm going to tell this tale from the perspective of a seventeen year old Lady Macbeth, but show what would happen if she was a fierce and gorge witch that loved animals." And ya know what? For the most part, this book slays, and mainly because Roscille is a complex and endearing character. She's the kinda gal that doesn’t knock, just steps in and we love an ethereal queen that's able to manipulate men with her beauty and ooky-spooky eyes. I mean, the girl gets out of putting out for Macbeth by requesting jewelry from Cawder and he immediately leaves to declare war and retrieve the gems. THE POWER SHE HAS. I swear, I need to get me one of those Lady M veils so I don’t have to look anyone directly in the eyes on days where I’m feeling depressy.

Another strength is the surprising love story that pops up in the form of a dragon. A very sexy and charismatic dragon that Roscille has steamy chemistry with. It's not SUPER spicy, but there are some much welcomed romps. Magic and mysticism is much more prevalent in this retelling which I appreciated and honestly wanted more of. Reid's prose is indeed very beautiful, albeit a little flowery at times, but it's clear she knows how to immerse her readers into the dark world she's created. I found it interesting to read about the origins of Lady M's madness and the women in her family that were also consumed by it. It was also interesting to see what Reid did with the new and existing characters and I can confidently say that Fleance can eat rocks and there must be justice for Hawise!

LADY MACBETH is a fresh enough take on the classic that it will leave you lisping, "YAS QUEEN!" by the end. That said, it did take me a bit longer to get through and I can't figure out if it's because of the pacing or writing style. The story would slog a little and then jump around and she'd omit scenes that I wish we would've actually seen. But ultimately, I dug the grey tones and foggy castle atmosphere just as much as I dug the ending and moral of the story. Basically men have always sucked, but alas here we are still talking about them. Shakespeare purists might roll their eyes at this version of Lady M, but if you go in with an open mind you might be surprised. I might need more time to sit on this one because I can't help but feel that something was missing and I need to process what that is.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine and Del Rey for the ARC. I'll be including LADY MACBETH in my upcoming February wrap-up on my BookTok (@thebradendavis).

i unfortunately had to dnf 20% through. While that may seem slightly unfair, the characters were two dimensional and the story was thoroughly not provoking, with many dark themes that were not catching my attention. i’ve loved her other books so far so this was truly a let down. i will potentially come back to it when im in the mood for something a little darker/less romance-esque.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I wish I could give it to my 16 year old self, who used to rant about all the misogyny in high school English books.

Lady Macbeth is portrayed as a 17 year old noble-woman who is trying desperately to take back some of her agency in a world where only men are allowed to be powerful. I loved her journey and growth throughout the story.

The writing was beautiful and filled with so much unique figurative language. There were so many little details illustrating the frustration of being a woman in a patriarchal world that resonated me to the point that it made me want to shout.

Full disclosure: I have not read the original Macbeth, so I cannot speak to how Ava Reid has changed the story. I was a little nervous it wouldn’t be as impactful having not read Macbeth, but it was amazing.

Content warning - SA (off page), DV, violence, torture (off page)

Thank you to Netgalley and the author/publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars for Ava Reid's writing, which is quite poetic and beautiful at times. I DNFed this book at 30% however, because it's just not for me and not what I was hoping for.

Lady Macbeth is an iconic character so I was very excited to read this book. I was disappointed to find that in this retelling, she is a 17-year-old girl whose actions are largely motivated by her desire to delay consummating her marriage with her new husband. Nothing wrong with that, but I was hoping for something a bit more adult and a lot darker.

This story leans YA with a fairy tale vibe. I wasn't as emotionally gripped by these famous characters as I usually am. The iconic witches were not nearly as sinister as I wanted them to be. They were creepy, but I want to be HAUNTED TO MY CORE by these witches! They are always one of my favorite parts of Macbeth and I was just underwhelmed by them here.

I think I just went into this expecting something different overall. I'm sure this book will have many fans, and Reid has a way with words that has definitely inspired me to read more from her.

When I tell you I am obsessed….. I had to wait a full week to write this review to allow myself to process. Now, I’d like to make clear, I have never read Macbeth, I went into this blind. I could not put it down. Ava Reid’s writing is exceptional and this story is to die for. The way I was swept into the mind of Lady Macbeth, felt her every thought and fed off her every emotion, I mean, I was completely enraptured.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lady Macbeth is the somewhat 🌶️ retelling from the feminist prospective of the lady herself. Rosille is sold by her father to the power hungry Macbeth to be his new wife.

Macbeth receives a prophecy that he will be the king hereafter, and his new witchy wife can help him reach his goal.

But his bright new wife has eyes for another man, and isn’t interested in helping Macbeth, she’s just trying to stay alive in her new court.

This one got me 🌀 ! It started slow and steady but with each Act- went harder and harder. If you’re into a classic retelling - this one is absolutely for you✨

Thanks Netgalley and Del Rey Books for the ARC!!

Lady Macbeth is my favorite of all Shakespeare’s characters. I was so hyped for this book. While gorgeously written, it fell flat for me. The strong, middle-aged Scotswoman who said “I would, while [the babe] was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out” is now a seventeen year old French girl who lacks all the charisma, intensity, and drama of her namesake. While the prose was lush and lovely, I found myself skimming, somewhat bored at times. Again, maybe my love for the original work and character clouds my judgement from being unbiased, but Roscille feels foreign from the “take my milk for gall” Lady Macbeth.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC
Ava Reid's Lady Macbeth will ring true for every angry and bloodthirsty teenage girl. Long before her hands were forever stained and she went mad, Lady Macbeth was a girl scared of what the world would shape her into. Reid's retelling does require two things from her reader: one to understand the stage version of Macbeth and two to view the panicking woman with a spot on her hands as a human. Rather than being a traditional retelling of the story, Reid looks at how Lady Macbeth became a monster; Roscille slowly transforms into the villain we recognize from her witch-cursed fate and, more importantly, her lust for power.
As someone who is already a fan of Reid and Macbeth, I found this an easy read. I now wait with blood-stained hands for publication day.

Ava Reid offers a mesmerizing reinterpretation of the iconic Shakespearean character, delving into her backstory with depth and ingenuity. Set against a backdrop of dark and isolated landscapes, the novel follows Lady Macbeth's journey before she assumes her infamous role, shedding light on her resilience and cunning in the face of adversity.

What truly sets this novel apart is Reid's masterful portrayal of the three witches. These eerie and complex characters are brought to life in a way that is both unsettling and deeply human. Their presence infuses the story with a sense of foreboding and mystery, leaving readers eager to unravel their secrets.

But it's not just the witches who shine in this tale. Lady Macbeth herself emerges as a compelling protagonist, her journey from a reluctant bride to a formidable force of nature both captivating and heart-wrenching. Reid's portrayal of her resilience and cunning in the face of adversity is nothing short of breathtaking, breathing new life into a character whose motivations have long been shrouded in mystery.

And the setting? Oh, it's like stepping into another world entirely - the dark and isolated Scotland. Reid's prose is so rich and vivid, you'll swear you can feel the mist on your skin and hear the clash of swords in the distance. It's atmospheric, it's immersive, and it sucks you in from the very first page.

But perhaps what is most impressive about "Lady Macbeth" is the way in which it pays homage to the original play while also carving out its own unique path. Reid deftly explores themes of power, ambition, and the human condition, offering readers a fresh perspective on a timeless tale.

So if you're looking for a story that's dark, thrilling, and utterly unforgettable, I definitely recommend checking 'Lady Macbeth'. With its unforgettable characters, pulse-pounding plot, and breathtaking prose, it's a book that demands to be read and reread, savored and cherished.

I struggled a bit with this one. The writing in this was very flowy and artistic and made you think of Shakespeare’s original, but the beginning seemed to drag on without much happening. The character of Lady Macbeth, which is interesting and discussion worthy in the original story, has been whittled down to a scared teenage girl floundering for any semblance of control or dignity in her life. The last 20% of the book was better than the first 80% and is probably the only reason this book got a second star. I can appreciate the attempt to give a classic female character her chance to shine but then let her shine. So many of the characters were one dimensional I felt nothing for a single one of them. Honestly I enjoyed Ava Reid’s A Study In Drowning, but the few weaknesses to be found in that book completely overtook this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.