Lady Macbeth is exceptional. The writing is gorgeous and the story is told as it never has been before. This felt like the perfect mixture of familiar and novel; there were moments when I knew what was coming and others where I was just as shocked as the characters. One of the biggest strengths in this book were the analogies that are woven throughout the entire story. I enjoyed the consistency this created and also marveled at the way that the meaning behind the analogies seemed to change as thing progressed in unexpected ways.

The setting in Lady Macbeth is described so well that it was perfectly clear to me as I read the book. By the time I closed the book, even without it being described I’d have known the bitter wind, the hush of the ocean, and the chill of the stone all around. The setting also suited the story being told and reflected the overall mood perfectly. Learning more about the culture and depth of Glammis throughout the progression of the story constantly kept me hooked, and I thought that the book perfectly mixed the historical research that Ava Reid obviously did with the magic that lurked beneath the surface in the world that she created.

There are few things that I enjoy more than a clever book about a clever character. Roscille is written to be deeply intelligent, but also very young, and both of these things are constantly shown by the writing, not just told to the reader. The characters in Lady Macbeth are unbelievably strong because of this—we are directly told through the writing how they are, and then that is reinforced time and time again through their dialogue, choices, and actions. Even the most despicable characters are good ones, simply for the skill with which they are depicted. In a book where the writing is a gorgeous, the setting is as poignant, and the plot as interesting as those in Lady Macbeth, it is a rarity for the characters to feel like the star of the show, but this is undeniably true for this book.

This book is rage, hopelessness, vengeance, betrayal, and violence. It is also cunning, adoration, devotion, protection, and justice. There were times when I felt like cursing and others when I felt like cheering. Though I expected this to be a book I devoured in one sitting, I instead found myself pausing to set it aside so that I could ruminate over all of the words that I’m sure I will still be thinking about when Lady Macbeth hits the shelves. This book is a masterpiece, and I am already looking forward to picking it up for another read.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Groups & NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I am neither an e-book person nor a historical fiction person, and yet Ava Reid has enthralled me once again.

Seeing all of the characters slowly being broken down over the course of this book was captivating, and I cannot express how happy I was to see the Lady Macbeth get her well-deserved revenge. She really grew as a character, both internally, with what we saw, and externally, with what she allowed other characters to see of herself.

You can really tell how well-researched this whole thing was, and I was honestly fully transported back to this time for the two endless days that I couldn’t put this down for.

I have not read Macbeth, but out of my new-found love towards this book, I will.

Lady Macbeth is both a polarizing and ambitious idea, and this is….in some ways the weakest work of Ava Reid thus far. I feel guilty saying it, seeing as she’s my favorite author. And I know I have a bias towards Juniper and Thorn, but I don’t think this story even touches ASID for me (my lowest-scoring Ava Reid book prior to this review). The thing that sets Lady Macbeth apart as a retelling for me is unlike Juniper and Thorn, it’s based on something much more concrete than an ever-changing folktale. It’s a play, and a very beloved one at that.

It most certainly doesn’t need to be one to one (if it was, people would just read the play and the book would be unable to justify its existence), but core elements of what make the characters…well, the characters need to be kept. Can they start off as different people, eventually growing into the person from the play? Sure, which I think is something that is attempted, but executed sloppily. As harsh as that sounds, I think the major issue was choosing Roscille to be the main character (more on this later).

Lady Roscille is the bastard daughter of Wrybeard, Duke of Breizh (an ancient territory in medieval France). In order to secure an alliance with the Thane of Glammis (an ancient territory in medieval Scotland), he arranges their marriage and sends her away. This leaves Roscille feeling disposed of and helpless – she was raised by her father to see things in people most others do not, think ahead, be generally cunning; but that wasn’t enough to save her from her fate. She is married off to better her father’s standing and to get rid of her presence at court. She has the ability to ensorcell men with her eyes, and because of this is forced to wear a veil at all times and is ostracized due to her being a “witch.”

THE GOOD AND THE BAD

Before I dive into my opinion on Roscille, I would like to take the time to address some things that I overall liked and disliked within the story and writing. As per usual, Reid’s prose is phenomenal. She has an ability to pull you in and grip you beginning to end. The way she paints an atmosphere in her works is easily her greatest and most admirable strength. She lays out the scenes and feelings of characters so, so well. You will never see me saying a bad thing about that.

The Witches are the best, point blank, period. There’s not enough of them to my liking, but I also think that…maybe that’s for the best to a degree? I’m not sure, because I could really make arguments either way. Using them sparingly makes them much more impactful, but at the same time, they are incredibly important to Roscille’s character arc. Either way, the jury is still out as to how I feel about that, but the Witches scenes may be some of Reid’s strongest writing. I loved the choices with them.

I loved what was done with Banquo’s and Fleance’s characters. I think it fit perfectly in line with the story Reid was trying to tell and I liked their expanded roles.

I liked the use of monsters (because I’m a sucker for monsters in stories). My main issue with it comes from Lisander honestly, but I’m going to treat that as a separate problem. The monster portrayal as is, is very good.

This is where my problems and conflicting feelings begin to arise. There’s much of this book I would have outright loved, if only it had been executed to my liking.

The themes that are handled in this book are present in all of Reid’s stories. Xenophobia, misogyny, etc. are repeated in all of her bodies of work and its something I’ve really appreciated about her as a writer. This book’s handling of these topics are definitely the most watery. I don’t think she really explored much of anything new, beyond the life of being trapped in a marriage when you’re a woman. This is completely fine to explore for me, but I think when you’re tackling the same sorts of things again and again, it's difficult to ask people to not compare it to your past works. This could simply be a personal issue or maybe even an issue of reading her books too closely together. Maybe reading a single release per year would fix this problem, but it’s especially apparent to me that Lady Macbeth stands as the weakest handler of these issues. I didn’t feel like it had all that much to say that she hasn’t said before. What it did say just didn’t stand up to the strength of her previous releases.

The next big issue is the characters themselves and the direction they’re taken. Like I said before, it’s absolutely fine for characters to be different. This is an adaptation not the play itself. But in order for it to be a successful adaptation there must be elements that remain true to the spirit of the play. I think what makes Macbeth an interesting character is that he’s introduced and believed to be someone who is just and brave, only for it to slowly be revealed to the audience that he’s really none of those things. Macbeth in this story is an oppressing presence beginning to end. Sure, some people in the audience may be tricked into thinking he’s nice (because he’s extremely manipulative) if they aren’t paying attention, but really he’s horrible from the time he’s introduced until the very end. I think this was a boring choice to make. I know this is typically very much in Reid style, but he doesn’t at all hold up to the previous men who filled this role in her stories. I could look past this decision if it wasn’t for everything else that didn’t work, but…well, there was a lot that didn’t work. I’ll reserve Lisander and Roscille for later to move onto the magic and the Witches.

THE MAGIC AND THE WITCHES

This is a soft magic system which is fine. I’m not looking for an explanation on how any of it really works, but I think there are elements introduced into the magic system deus ex machina style.

All this being said: Roscille barely uses or engages in her magic throughout the entirety of the story. This didn’t feel like a purposeful decision in that it needed to be used sparingly. It seemed like there was just an overall major issue with her not engaging in her magic at all. She never really comes to embrace it in a truly substantial way or learn much about it. It’s just kind of…there. And that sucks.


THE PROBLEM WITH ROSCILLE

Now we finally address the elephant in the room: Roscille. As a character archetype she’s certainly one I gravitate towards. As the titular Lady Macbeth? She falls very, very short. I think this is where the problem lies: this shouldn’t have been a novel marketed as an adaptation of Macbeth or even named Lady Macbeth. It should have been loosely inspired and sold as such. You are creating an expectation when someone picks up your novel. Lady Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most iconic female characters next to Juliet. She is famed for her cunning, ambition, ruthlessness, and eventual madness. While I find the questions behind the Why of Lady Macbeth fascinating (Who is she? Where is she from? What is her name? What made her the way she is?), having a character like Roscille answer them just doesn’t work.

Part of the issue for me lies in the age. Why take a character like Lady Macbeth – a character who is played by mostly middle aged women – and have her portrayed as a seventeen year old? Perhaps if a lot of this was rearranged so it wasn’t the play itself, but as a sort of prequel would have worked better. Show us the person Lady Macbeth was prior to the opening of Macbeth so we can see how her character is molded into the woman she is during the events of the play. Taking someone who is incredibly timid, unsure of the world, still learning herself and her power within it, doesn’t actually work when inserted into the play. It makes for a less active character, who is being pulled around and is passive for the majority of the story. That is a major problem.

We are told around the midmark, repeatedly really, that Roscille is slipping into the role of Lady Macbeth; she is becoming someone who is ruthless and cunning. In…what way exactly? This part was handled so clunky in my opinion. I really didn’t feel like there was much difference between the Roscille we are introduced to in the beginning of the story to the one we end up with in the end. None of her ruthlessness in the end feels particularly earned in a sense, at least not in terms of her becoming who she is supposed to be: Lady Macbeth herself.

I think Roscille was sort of set up to fail from the beginning as a protagonist, which is extremely unfortunate.

THE PROBLEM WITH LISANDER

I’ll be blunt: the romance should have been omitted entirely. It's barely there and it’s not really earned. Much like Marlinchen and Sevas, it’s giving instalove, but without the smooth execution. You’re able to buy Marlinchen’s instant affection and attraction, because it’s introduced chapter one. Really, it’s the catalyst for the entire plot. The romance doesn’t even appear in this story until around the 25% mark.

In Lady Macbeth it just distracts from the plot. I mean…there’s truly not much else to say about this. Could they have been interesting? I think so. But you really need more than that to make a relationship believable. It seemed like there wasn’t a way to introduce Lisander properly into the plot to make him extremely relevant. Maybe Reid was trying something a little looser in line with old romances in fairytales and plays. I think no matter the explanation this just didn’t work for me.

THE CONCLUSION

I still enjoyed this read. I still adore Ava Reid as an author and this book hasn’t changed my opinion of her. I do think this book needed much more polishing or even just an entire rework before publishing. If this was any other writer then my critique wouldn’t be as harsh in that regard. But to me Reid is such an amazing writer who is capable of so much more if given the chance. As it is, Lady Macbeth did not stick the landing for me.

I have read previous books by Ava Reid and was really looking forward to this story. And I enjoyed it just as much as her previous books.
Ava Reid knows how to right female characters who are strong but also flawed and Lady Macbeth is another example of this. She also has great descriptive imagery of Mediaeval Scotland that really makes you feel like you are there.
This story kept me intrigued the entire time and I really couldn’t predict what the ending would be!

Ava Reid does it again with this rich, almost gothic, Macbeth retelling. I was immediately captivated by Roscille and this world Reid has portrayed. So refreshing to read a retelling of something different and thought provoking. I will be recommending this to anyone who will listen!

ava reid's ability to write a book that doesn't leave you completely speechless once it's over. the writing in this book is so perfectly haunting, I couldn't stop thinking about what would happen next and where Roscille would end up at the end. I'm not familiar with the story of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth so this was an amazing place to start my interest in learning more! the pacing is slow, which usually isn't my thing but for this book/story it's PERFECT. ava reid is incapable of writing something that isn't less than perfect and I cannot wait for the reading world to get their hands on this book.

Ava Reid's Lady Macbeth is bone chillingly amazing and captivating. It's dark, compelling and an ode to the classic.

This is my first time reading a book by Ava Reid but after this book, it will not be my last. I couldn't put the book down. The pages turned so fast and sleep alluded me as I needed to keep reading. I always love reading new things and the concept of a woman that is considered macabre and unhinged was done so well. I love Shakespeare stories and retellings and I thought this was so well done. Something I really loved about Lady Macbeth was the imagery and symbolism that is so iconic to the character. The detailed picturesque imagery transported me to Gothic Scotland and the foreshadowing and symbolism was so witty and clever.

I liked the romantic subplot that felt unique while preserving some parts of Macbeth while changing some bits of the story. If I had to say something, I think I would've liked an ending that wasn't so rushed. I felt like I wanted a little more but that's just me finding something but overall, It is such a fun book for lovers of Shakespeare, Gothic lit and lovers of unhinged morally corrupt women. I highly recommend this book!

Embark on an enthralling journey through the captivating reimagining of Shakespeare's Macbeth by the brilliant mind of Ava Reid, the literary genius behind "A Study on Drowning." The mere announcement of her endeavor to offer a new perspective to one of Shakespeare's most contentious plays had me enthusiastically screaming yes and punctuating the excitement with a fist pump. The anticipation skyrocketed as I delved into an early copy of this retelling, captivated by the enigmatic lady in the veil adorning the cover.

For those uninitiated into the intricacies of the original manuscript or those seeking another exhilarating fantasy escapade, consider this retelling of Lady Macbeth a unique exploration—a feminist lens cast upon the narrative that may spark excitement, even as it challenges the sentiments of steadfast fans of the classic.

"Lady Macbeth" artfully crafts a narrative around Roscille, a beguiling girl presumed to be a bastard and encumbered with presumed witchy powers. The story unfolds as she journeys to Glammis, Macbeth's castle, in a carriage, destined for a wedding ceremony with him. Molded by her father into a girl cursed with witchcraft, a mere pawn in his political machinations, Roscille takes her first steps into Glammis, paving her path in a world dominated by powerful men. Can she navigate this realm, subtly orchestrating her husband into abstaining from consummating their marriage, guiding him with other missions while he remains blissfully ignorant of the subtle manipulation, considering himself the mastermind and using his wife as a clandestine weapon for his schemes?

The lingering questions echo—Who truly holds the reins of control? Who pulls the strings from the shadows?

This thought-provoking and decidedly unconventional retelling not only offers insight into a woman's self-discovery in a world driven by power dynamics but also delves into the poignant struggle of a solitary young woman finding her way through the foggy road of destiny. The narrative is peppered with romantic elements, introducing mythical figures and fantastical elements like witches, dragons, and curses.

For those captivated by the allure of calculated mind games, vicious scheming, and supernatural elements within a dark gothic atmosphere, this enchanting realm awaits your exploration!

As I traverse this modern rendition, my journey has been a captivating exploration, shedding a fresh perspective on one of literature's unforgettable, yet, in my opinion, underrated characters.

With heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for granting me access to this exquisite literary work, allowing me to share my honest opinions. Join me as we unravel the mysteries within the pages and immerse ourselves in the vivid tapestry Ava Reid has intricately woven.

A heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/ Ballentine/Del Rey for sharing this incredible book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange of my honest thoughts.

𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒍, 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑-𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒅, 𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒆𝒍. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒈𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒆, 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒄𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒐𝒎. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒉, 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒇𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆.


Predictably, Ava Reid’s words have once again, transcended the page, traced worn paths into my woodland heart, slithered through the corridors of my mind, and steeped into my very soul.

Read this for:
🏰 a retelling of Macbeth, but from Lady Macbeth’s POV
🐉 curses! corpses! murder! witches! magic! dragons!
🔪 a poison-eyed, witch-kissed leading lady who is tender, raw, ferocious, and overflowing with feminine rage
🤍strikingly beautiful prose, atmospheric writing that is soft and sharp and quiet and loud

Macbeth, but reimagined. No… reinvented! This isn’t the bard’s version, but a bolder, fiercer, more layered tale woven with ruthless and cunning characters, all set against a bleak and brutal backdrop of a seaside Scottish castle brimming with scheming, violent, savage men.

I’m still trying to catch my breath after Ava Reid knocked the wind out of me. She has done it again, delivering a stunning work of gothic fantasy, laced with magical elements, brimming with unflinching unease.

For fans of Circe by Madeline Miller, and for the women who were little girls like me, running around the house with a wooden sword shouting “I AM NO MAN” after seeing Éowyn slay the Witch-King of Angmar.

Note: You don’t have to reread Macbeth, or even skim the plot points online before/during reading to refresh, like I did. You can just immerse yourself into this masterpiece, see yourself reflected in the transient form of Roscille, Roscilla, Lady Macbeth beneath her veil, in the shifting surfaces of water and blood, in the witch-songs, in the alien world that is all once, all too familiar. Ava Reid has me under her curse ✨

A HUGE thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC (Advanced Reader’s Copy)! Lady Macbeth is scheduled to be released on August 6th, 2024 🤍

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
🩸🗡️ “𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙."🗡️🩸

if there's one thing to know about me, it's that im going to absolutely devour anything miss reid writes. her writing never fails to be captivating and just so poetic, and that works especially well with a lady macbeth retelling (though it's more like a complete reinvention).

𝙄𝙛 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮, 𝙞𝙛 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨. 𝙑𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚.

i need to reread macbeth asap and i might come back here to say more things no one cares about after i do tbh. but let me just say, i fucking LOVE retellings where the story focuses on a woman who had been previously sidelined (ophelia 2018 im looking at you). even if you don't like/know nothing about shakespeare or macbeth you can still read this novel and fully enjoy it! if you like historical fiction (specifically in scotland), a bit of fantasy/mythological elements, enchanting writing, and powerful female characters, this is a wonderful retelling regardless of prior shakespearean knowledge.

𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙍𝙤𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙯𝙝, 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙍𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙚, 𝙍𝙤𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙚, 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙍𝙤𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖. 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙇𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙘𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙝.

I love shakespeare and i go crazy for analyzing his female characters, so this shit was made for me. such a gorgeous and tragic retelling. the ending, however, fell a little flat for me. It just seemed a bit rushed and like it could have had more to it. I do feel like a few key "Macbeth" details were ditched which was questionable (i.e. Lady Macbeth was convinced by Macbeth to do the killing rather than the other way around) and it had some odd parts with the way Reid wanted to portray the "barbarous" Scots/Macbeth and the beauty of Lady Macbeth. And this might have bothered me more if I had read Macbeth recently, but I haven't... so I ended up enjoying the story regardless. (with complete honesty, my rating might go down a bit after I revisit the original text.)

but yeah, the imagery, the symbolism, the tragedy that is macbeth, the three witches, the evolution of lady macbeth?! yeah, the book went hard in that regard.

"𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙤𝙩, 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙣-𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡.”
“𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙚.”

I thought the cover was ugly at first, but now im kinda obsessed?! Like i cannot wait to own a physical copy (as long as it’s not glossy!!! Like wtf was that about with a study in drowning??? 😡) PLS IM BEGGING FOR A SPEICAL EDITION VERSION!! I already know the sprayed edges would be insane.

𝙍𝙤𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙇𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙘𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙞𝙣.

“Lady Macbeth” is a gothic masterpiece revealing the ingenuity of a woman’s cunning mind to survive the life circumstances bestowed upon her. I believe Shakespeare himself would be gripping the edges of his seat while reading this engrossing tale.

Reid’s story-telling and writing style draw the audience into the story of Roscille, the foreign bride, as she becomes the Lady Macbeth.

I am so grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Shakespeare’s great female character, Lady Macbeth, is a powerhouse of a woman. Bold and audacious, she looks her warrior husband in the eye and, when he fears to reach out and grasp the destiny laid before him, she tells him to ‘screw his courage to the sticking place’ and commit the murder they both feel must be done to gain the throne the Three Witches have told Macbeth will be his. Usually cast as a middle-aged or older woman, she has been portrayed by such luminaries of stage and screen as Frances McDormand and Dame Judi Dench.

It’s a shame such a woman doesn’t appear in Ava Reid’s latest novel, a semi-historical fantasy novel curiously named Lady Macbeth. Though the historical Lady Macbeth has a name- Gruoch Ingen Boite- Reid saw fit to make her Lady anew. Instead of a strong Scottish woman of noble birth, Reid’s Lady is Roscille, an illegitimate daughter of a French lord. She is all of seventeen years old and is altogether too beautiful for words. She can also drive men mad with the power of her eyes, and is just too, too clever for her sex, because obviously women were never allowed to speak their minds in the medieval era.

I can imagine that such women as Æthelflæd Lady of Mercia, Judith of Flanders, Gunnhildr Gormsdóttir, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France, Joan of Arc, or any of the outspoken women of Shakespeare’s time, up to and including Elizabeth I herself, would take issue with the idea that they had to keep their mouths shut because “that’s just what women did”.

But that’s neither here nor there. Instead of a mature woman unafraid to speak her mind, we get a seventeen-year-old girl sent into the primitive land known as Scotland, where all the men are brutal, barbaric brutes who do little but fight over bits of barren land. The constant xenophobia directed against Scottish people is utterly baffling- especially when the only man who isn’t a savage barbarian with features like broken rocks is a half-Englishman. What, pray tell, in the text of Shakespeare’s Macbeth gives the impression of endless violence being done by every Scottish man?

Also baffling is the lack of women in the book. Apparently, between bouts of violence, these Scottish men do all the spinning, weaving, sewing, and child-rearing that would normally have been done by women, because there are no women in this castle and hardly any in the story. We’re told that the Scottish noblewomen are allowed no servants and must do everything themselves, and it’s not the done thing in Scotland to even have women in the castle. This is because of… reasons. Story reasons. Because if little Roscille wasn’t all by her lonesome, an older woman might come along and tell her to buck up and show her that a woman’s power isn’t made solely of flirtation and “womanly wiles”. Shakespeare’s Lady continually urges Macbeth to reach for power, to set aside his guilt, and become the king he is prophesied to be. She does this on page and on stage without faltering. Roscille makes one suggestion to her Macbeth, and another suggestion to another man, and though we’re told she speaks up at council meetings, it’s never on page. So often, she’s shivering in a corner or getting her arms tangled up in her gowns. More than once she needs to be rescued by a man. Too often, she is afraid to speak up, use her witchy ways, or otherwise take the power she could have if she would only take action. Any kind of action not prompted by the men around her.

In the end, Lady Macbeth feels less like Shakespeare’s Macbeth retold, and more like a Bluebeard story. If that were the case, Roscille’s lack of agency might more sense. Macbeth’s brutality might sense. The isolation in the castle might make more sense. As a Bluebeard story, this would be more successful.

Alas, this is meant to be a tale of Macbeth, for through this lens, the story fails. Roscille is a pale shadow of the Ladies Macbeth who have come before. The historical inaccuracies compound upon one another until the hodgepodge of historical figures plucked from random centuries blended with blatant inaccuracies becomes irritating, and one cannot escape the feeling that the “research materials” for this book consisted of Mel Gibson’s Braveheart and a few episodes of Outlander.

There are a lot of questions I have for this book. Why is the lady seventeen? Why does she have so little agency? Why are there no other women? Why are the witches where they are? Why is there a dragon? Why does the author hate Scottish men? But mostly I wonder, what was the point of this? At the end of it, all we have is, as Shakespeare might say, a tale “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”



Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the eARC. Receipt of the free ARC did not affect my opinion of this book.

4.5 stars! I haven’t read Macbeth since probably my second year of college. I remember enjoying it a lot, even though my recollection of the play is murky now. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this feminist retelling. I was worried since this is more historical fantasy that it would take me awhile to get into and finish. However, Ava Reid’s writing sucked me in right away. Her writing is beautifully rich with metaphor. The descriptions of Scotland were so very captivating. I loved the liberties she took with the source material. The undertones of female rage were phenomenal. Lady Macbeth’s character development throughout the course of the book is amazing to witness. We watch her go from a frail dove to roaring phoenix.

*WARNING: SLIGHT SPOILERS*
I did love this book, but it never quite hit the 5 star mark for me. I couldn’t exactly tell you why. If I had to nitpick, it would be that some elements just didn’t work for me. I loved the slight romantic subplot but found it odd/out of place that the love interest was cursed to be a sort of shapeshifter. Also the fact that his name is from another Shakespeare play was a little confusing.

Review will be posted to Goodreads & Storygraph!

if you are looking for an interesting and engaging interpretation of Shakespeare’s MacBeth or even a novel with a strong female lead character, this novel is not it. Although, I have to applaud Ava Reid for attempting to infuse new life into the legend of MacBeth. Upon finishing this novel, I was found to be wanting much more than what was written. There were many missed opportunities that could have catapulted this novel from a mediocre retelling to that of a stellar and ground breaking treatise on one of the greatest characters ever portrayed on stage, screen, or print.

The author paints Lady Roscille, the titular character, as weak. Lady MacBeth is quite possibly the strongest of all of Shakespeare’s theatrical/literary creations. Even at the height of her “power”, Roscille as a character was boring. I was hoping to enjoy this updated characterization of Lady MacBeth, but instead I was rooting for everyone, but her..

The novel begins right before the events portrayed in the play and within the legend. By rushing the story, there was no chemistry/history between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. They are meant to be the ultimate “power couple” with bonds that cannot be broken. It would have been more compelling for the author to develop this relationship more thoroughly so that we can believe that Roscille would feel the need to commit the murders in her husband’s name. Roscille’s relationship with Fleancé is established more so than that between the titular wife and husband.

Apart from the character names, setting, and a very “loose” reinterpretation of the legend of MacBeth, “Lady MacBeth” reads more as a novel about teenage angst. The author missed many an opportunity to craft a new take on a thousand year old legend and four hundred year old play.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ava Reid’s Lady Macbeth may be one of the best novels to release this year and I have no qualms saying that as early as January. A masterful feminist retelling of a woman often talked about in academic circles but rarely understood, Reid captures the fear, hopes, anger, and wants of the women of the past, present, and future.

Lady Macbeth has always been a character so wrapped in my imagination. A blade in the hand of her husband, an innocent flower or the serpent underneath it, or something more than that - a fully realized woman. For the dark academia, horror adjacent, feminist lens readers this gets a 5/5 stars from me.

This is a masterpiece. My first 5-star read of the year. A fresh, engaging, and thought-provoking take on the classic tale of Macbeth through the eyes of Lady Macbeth. Fantasy elements are included but not at all distracting from the lessons of the story. Why did Macbeth choose Lady Roscille, who whispers say has eyes that induce madness in men? They say she is witch marked and yet Macbeth does not seem afraid. Follow Roscille as she acclimates to her new home in Scotland, a hostile and suspicious court. She engages in a game of strategy, using the wiles her father's court taught her. But the Lady does not know her husband has secrets of his own. She does not know that prophecy shields him as armor. And she does not know that her magic will threaten the order of the world. But when faced with a Prince who shares his monstrous curse openly with her, will she be able to go back to one who is more monster than man by choice?

This tale mentions and alludes to other famous literary tales. It is haunting, clever, intelligent, and spooky. Reid's prowess is on full display, crafting a tale out of a famous story that not only entertains but educates its readers. Roscille is the product of her surroundings, she is shaped by the men around her. Molded by her continual drive for survival, she learns brutal lessons and evolves into an unmovable force. Make no mistake this book is ruthlessly immersive. My heart raced, my stomach churned, I swooned and I wanted to throw my kindle against the wall. You can't help but feel Reid's words. And they don't leave you quickly after you've put the book down. Lady Macbeth isn't any old retelling; it's an intentional reinvention of Shakespeare's tragedy into an empowering tale of a woman taking back power and reclaiming her future. This classic becomes something fierce and emotionally resonant to be enjoyed by generations new and old. I cannot recommend this enough.

Wow.

I am not a Shakespeare fan, but I am an Ava Reid fan. I love how she gives women a voice, a story, and strength that is not conditional upon a man or what value men place on them.

"A wife is only as clever as her husband permits her to be."

This gothic tale is steeped in metaphors, deeply atmospheric, and written with a powerful prose.

"Ill omens are writ on her skin like runes."

The story is dark, raw, emotional, and haunting. It will make you feel disquiet in both the best and worst ways. The oppressive setting of Roscille's new home sucked me in right along with her.

"Madness, of all things, is the most unforgivable in a woman."

This is what happens when men try and mold a woman into whatever she needs to be to fit their purpose for her. They tried to strip away her identity and her humanity, and her husband tried to to drag her down into the depths of madness along with him.

"There is no mercy that a sheep can show a wolf."

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing/Del Ray for the digital ARC!

"I see the wounds on you, Lady. I see the fury in your silence. I see the protest in your pain."

Roscille, our intelligent and strangely bewitching lead, is an, "unearthly beauty that Wrybeard's court call death-touched. Poison-eyed. Witch-kissed."

White hair, like moonlight. Her skin, said to be bloodless beneath the porcelain white. A veil that hides her eyes. Those eyes, an arresting sight that is said to bring men to madness.

All shadows and smoke and lightning; ash falling from the onslaught. A little girl asks innocently, "why did the witch curse me?"

Her only friend, Hawise, her Nose handmaiden; her only company. The only comfort, lending her her words in an unforgiving place by the sea. "You will survive this, too."

Handsome Reity, her new husband-to-be. Lady Wife & Lord Husband. New titles for a new land.

Lady Macbeth. Queen Hereafter. Roscille, the dagger of King Reity's hand. A visit of Lisander -- and then following, a downed king. Love affairs and blood and deceit.

This novel engaged me from page one. The history is so well done, the setting, the characters, all of it is pristine. I feel as though I am unraveling a dark fairytale from true history.

"We can never truly be apart then; if we are each other's ghosts."

Creatures, dark animalistic aberrations that are named witch, devil, wrong. The twist is a most exciting one I was not expecting! This very well may be my favorite novel of the year. The most compelling dark romance, no reader should pass this one up. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 stars!

This story was told beautifully and was strongly written. It was just not the story made for me. I love the modern concept of Macbeth and was interested in reading it, but the book did not call to me like I hoped. Beautiful story-just not for me.

i’m frothing at the mouth at how spectacular this was. i mean these bangers on top of bangers from ava reid need to be a subject of research because she’s unreal.

im a shakespeare junkie, and as someone having read the original macbeth, i was hesitant to consume any other creative takes that may have discrepancies which don’t cater to my taste of who i deem macbeth is and what her story entails. but now i want to say that creativity from whoever’s eyes is art. and that’s exactly what reid did with her interpretation. she crafted this very fleshed out world warped with fantastical elements, gothic witches, dragons, AND gave macbeth feminine rage— i mean that is the selling point right there.

this was soulful, lyrical, enchanting, and achingly romantic— the latter of which left me devastated. t’s a very mature story, in tune with juniper and thorn i would say, but still remains wildly distinctive.

it’s a quiet, sort of twisty and yet lustrous world that to be quite honest left be unsettled but bewitched. there’s no other ways to describe the feeling i was left after closing the book. you will not be comforted by this story, so don’t expect rainbows and unicorns. it will gnaw at you and untether your understanding of everything, all coated in gore, manipulation and deception. i loved her other works, but this has cemented ava reid as an auto-buy author in my books.

a huge thanks to netgalley and the publishing team at Random House for approving my arc request!! all comments and opinions are my own :))

*This book is a historical fiction piece, with fantasy elements. More precisely, it’s a retelling of Macbeth. It is intended for adult readers, preferably 16-18+.
This review is posted on Goodreads! The link is attached below.*