Shakespeare decidedly did not write this, but oh my gods, this was an incredible story of female power in a patriarchal society.

First off, there is a persona dramatis (list of characters) WITH all of the different spellings in the multitude of languages featured in this book - trust me this was a necessary thing because the spellings for each of the languages differed wildly. Secondly, this is a slow paced book, yes there is action, but the world building and character development for Lady Macbeth was the primary focus. It took me a little while to get into the book, but the growing emotional tidal wave that she goes through is very well done.

My only issues were that she is only 17 during this book, and at times it felt incongruous with the slow simmering rage, I remember 17 being much more rollercoaster like (lots of ups and downs), this felt like the rage of a 30 something. The other thing that bugged me was the occasional bogged down sections in description of things that were repeated, emphasis on her eyes, and the veil she wore.

Still a well written feminist take on the story of Macbeth, with a very different outcome.

Ava Reid’s Lady Macbeth is a captivating read that left me thoroughly impressed - I’m her newest fan! Reid’s writing is both rich and evocative, crafting a dark, moody atmosphere that’s ideal for a rainy fall day. Considering I can’t remember the original Macbeth plot well, this book feels complete and compelling on its own. The story is immersive, pulling you into its eerie world with skillful prose. My only minor complaint was the use of different languages and dialects, which could be a bit confusing at times. Despite this, Reid’s innovative take and atmospheric storytelling make Lady Macbeth a captivating and memorable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Have to soft dnf this beautiful writing but I don’t think the book is for me. It was a little hard for me to get into the story will try again later.

This REALLY makes me want to reread The Tragedy of Macbeth. Based on the reviews, though, doing so beforehand would have made me enjoy this book less...so I'm glad I waited.

If I ignore that this is a retelling, it's an excellent, dreary, gothic novel that makes the reader feel trapped, a sense of dread and foreboding throughout as our titular Lady tries to survive her new life and subvert war. I found the prose gorgeous, and our Lady is cunning though fallible.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine | Del Rey for this ARC Copy! 4.5 Stars

I have been looking forward to this book since the moment that I saw it was being written and I am happy to say that I was not disappointed at all.

This may not be the book for everyone and that is okay but I absolutely loved it. It is dark, gothic, atmospheric, gritty, and bloody and I loved every minute of it. The characters are hard to love and I think that was intentional, you don't have to love a character to root for them but it just made the female rage that much more impactful in my opinion.

There’s always something so distinct about Ava Reid’s writing. It’s dark, intelligent, haunting, beautiful and so much more. I was not familiar with Macbeth going into this novel but the Shakespearean influences were strong a I felt like it was a very well done adaptation. Some things went over my head but that’s my fault not the book’s.

I loved how no character was inherently good. They all had flaws and made questionable decisions but I still rooted for Roscille the whole time. Definitely a very thought provoking book that will stick with me for a long time.

Another masterpiece by Ava Reid. I loved this take on Macbeth. I believe this one will live on for years to come♥️

This was my second Ava Reid book and I loved the prose once again. The story was less strong but it was still a nice read. Glad I knew the trigger warnings earlier

I was definitely falling asleep in the back of my 11th grade English Lit class when we covered Shakespeare, so I went in blind for this one and still had a good time. After reading and enjoying several of Reid's other books, I'll pretty much give anything she writes a go.

This gothic fantasy feminist Macbeth reimagining was filled with scheming, feminine rage, and a bit of romance. I think it's eloquently written and shows Reid's depth and range as an author that she can dabble in so many topics and tropes. Definitely recommended this one.

Thank you so much for the ARC.

DNF @ 25%

I am a fan of Lady MacBeth and in college took multiple classes on Shakespeare and even wrote a paper about her. This is a very loose telling and I feel like her character didn't align with how I pictured her or enjoyed of her in the play. I feel like those who aren't invested in her character may enjoy the book because they don't already have a bias. I also have tried multiple books by Ava Reid and no matter what I read her writing just isn't for me which may have played a part.

In this Macbeth retelling by Ava Reid Rosiclle is married off at 17 to a Scottish Duke. It is said that her eyes induce madness and that she is witch touched, so she is shrouded by a veil. She is a product of her father, defined by him, and now promised to be defined by another.

Lady Macbeth is a hard one for me to rate. I felt like this story moved so slowly, and found myself putting off reading it. That would make you think low rating, right? Well, not necessarily. Reid is a master at writing women who find their way while being pushed down by the men around them. Even during the slower parts that I struggled through you are able to feel Roscille’s build up. The plot did not pick up until about the 70% mark and once it did it took off. I really enjoyed the last 30%.

Reid’s prose is beautiful as usual, and I enjoyed many passages and descriptors she chose to use throughout.

Overall, I think I need to go with 3.5 stars.

Ava Reid's thought provoking feminist take on Macbeth is atmospheric, dark and evocative.
This is not really a retelling, more of a story based on Shakespeare's Macbeth and I really enjoyed it, especially the magical elements.
Not structured as a play, though it reads as one, Lady Macbeth has Ava's distinctive lush prose and gruesome elements present in her previous books.

Reid’s meticulous attention to historical authenticity is evident in her adept use of period-appropriate language, reflecting the fluidity and evolution of speech during the era she portrays. This dedication to linguistic authenticity immerses readers in the texture and tone of the historical setting, making the cold, damp castle and its harsh environment palpable. Her evocative descriptions of the biting winds and the oppressive gloom draw readers into a visceral experience of the era’s physical and emotional landscape.

This unconventional retelling not only explores a woman’s journey of self-discovery in a world where bloodthirsty men vie for control, but also depicts the struggle of a lonely young woman trying to navigate a treacherous path. The story is enriched with romantic elements and steeped in Scottish folklore, blending mythical creatures and curses with a captivating fantasy narrative.

For those intrigued by tales of strategic mind games, devious plots, and supernatural elements set against a dark, gothic backdrop, this modern reinterpretation offers a fresh perspective on a compelling yet often underappreciated fictional character.

eternal gratitude to netgalley and the publisher for the arc

Ava Reid always captures my heart with her dark and lyrical tales. Lady Macbeth is no different!

Macbeth purist might think this Lady Macbeth depiction veers to far from the original source but I found the choice to make our heroine a bit quiter in her calculation really paid off! Her demure nature on page made her silent and masterful manipulation all the more impressive, subverting what readers have come to expect.

Literary retellings have always been both popular and controversial. Some readers desire an extension of the canon, while others seek a new twist or a combination of the two. I am personally easy to please. I enjoy either one, intrigued by differing interpretations and perspectives, as long as they’re well-executed. Ava Reid’s Lady Macbeth offers an intriguing take on its titular character. Fashioned as a young bride, viewed as little more than a political prize, how would she find herself in the play’s infamous web of violence? To see her perspective stem from survival rather than hunger intrigued me. Unfortunately, Reid does little to expand on the ideas she presents. Each character feels underdeveloped, with an underdeveloped setting and plot to match. The writing does little more than set up the atmosphere which, without those prior aspects, rings hollow. ~300 pages have never felt longer. It is difficult for me to criticize other aspects of the work simply because nothing is written with depth. For example, was the unchallenged xenophobia meant to serve a purpose? Judging writing that lacks dimension makes it difficult to interrogate intention and delivery alike. As a retelling, Lady Macbeth also falters. Reid fails to interact with the original text in any clear or meaningful way. The story feels like Shakespeare’s characters (and some originals) were plugged into an entirely different world, for no apparent reason. I do have to give credit where it’s due, though. Most retellings don’t dare to venture far from the source material. Lady Macbeth may have missed the mark, but not for lack of trying. 2/5 stars.

I had a love hate relationship with this book. I felt like the writing was well done but I felt like the characters fell flat. I also found that the story had a hard time keeping me engaged and wanting more. I was very excited to read this book but it ended up falling a little flat.

(This review is from my Goodreads account as it’s too long to put on my bookstagram. Because of this, I have linked both in this review)

This was pitched as a feminist Lady Macbeth retelling and I’m confused because where the heck is the feminism? Where is the famous middle-aged woman who literally gaslights and gatekeeps her way to power? And how can you set a book in Scotland and then HORRENDOUSLY represent them? I’m honestly mad for the Scots because what was this??

The book follows the 17 year old French lady, Roscille as she makes her way to Scotland to wed Macbeth. The reader is told right at the beginning of the book that Roscille is cunning, incredibly observant, and fantastic with remembering people’s names and faces. What the reader gets for the rest of the book though is a naive girl who thinks she can manipulate her way around the castle with it only coming back to spectacularly bite her in the ass, and a girl who literally cannot remember a single person that isn’t Banquo and his son Fleánce. Roscille comes off as the typical spoiled noble raised child who is upset that she has to be sent to Scotland as part of a treaty between her father the Duke of Brittany (Breizh as it is properly called in Breton and in the book) and Macbeth. Not only is she upset by this marriage treaty, which I would expect from a historically accurate child bride, but her internalized misogyny and xenophobia was WAY overdone in my opinion. I can see why Reid would want to use these themes in her novel as she has in her other books, but the way that she went about it in this book was not only exaggerated, but also incredibly rude in general. Roscille thinks all women except her are dumb and ugly. She likes to hold herself to the high standard of having perfect skin and an “intelligent” mind (which I think is just plain flattery here), and that is why other women can’t compare to her. This was especially true when it came to her handmaiden, Hawise, a girl from Normandy, who was described as top heavy and not very bright. While she hates when Hawise is constantly sexually harassed by the men in her father’s court, but then she does nothing to help the girl other than just be silently angry for her. And the fact that Hawise is part of the Norseman who settled in that part of France? Wow, like girl, you could be nicer instead using her as an experiment to “civilize” Norsemen. Speaking of her bad attitude towards outsiders, Roscille’s horrendous attitude towards the Scots was just infuriating as a reader of both casual reading and someone who loves reading anything related to the Celtic nations. She refuses to see the Scots as nothing more than brutish heathens that are bloodthirsty and barbaric. The only people she sees as worthy of her acceptance is the weird love interest in Lisander (I’ll get to this later) who is half English. Yes, the notion that the English are civilized and thus inherently more decent than the brutes that are all Scottish men. Really, for someone that comes from a land with Celtic roots, I thought she’d have a bit more sympathy towards another Celtic nation. I was so done with Roscille that I honestly started rolling my eyes whenever Roscille tried to rationalize why she was a victim of the Scots and their ways and silently celebrating when her “schemes” went to shit. Really, this character was just god awful and I couldn’t wait to get out of her POV.

The other thing that I couldn’t wrap my head around with Roscille’s characterization is that she is portrayed as a pawn in her husband’s grab for power instead of it being the other way around. Like, excuse me?? Where is the kickass woman from the play who literally starts belittling her husband for not taking a chance at the crown when he could? Where is her f-ing agency in making decisions??? This just boggled my mind and I couldn’t understand how this could possibly be considered feminist when you are literally taking away a POWERFUL female character’s agency and ability to make decisions on her own. Is this a spoof or something, because if it is, round of applause for making me so irrationally pissed off while reading this.

Speaking of irrationally pissed off, did we seriously need a love story between Lady Macbeth and Lisander/Malcom?? I found this romance to be completely uncalled for and could’ve been entirely scrapped in my opinion. It was really cringeworthy when Reid started portraying the love as better suited for Roscille because the man’s half English and not inclined to be brutish as his full Scottish brethren because of those BLESSED English genes.

Another thing that really confused me with this book is why is there a dragonshifter in this? Like, we all know that the dragon is the symbol of Wales while England is the lion and Scotland is the unicorn. It’s even freaking mentioned in the book!! The fact that the dragon is somehow important to this Scottish heavy plot just really confused me . . . Also just the huge importance on animals in general in this book just made me scratch my head multiple times at because why the HEAVY emphasis on ermines and their “cunning” when the main character literally can’t see and plot past her present needs?

The last thing that really ground my gears and confused me a lot was how on earth did Roscille get her powers? Like it’s even speculated in the book, but still . . . Why do her eyes have the ability to ensorcel men and only men? I was really interested in the idea that Roscille is a fourth witch, but this just fell incredibly flat for me.

The SOLE thing that kept me going with this dumpster fire of a book, is the use of Breton folklore. I was honestly more interested in that than the entire drama going on in Glammis Castle and wish there was more of it in general. . . Or just scrap this plot and write a book about Breton folklore!

In general, I’m going to try and wrap up this review because I feel like I’m just bitching and moaning at this point. My last few bits are, if you want a great scholarly review, bri has posted hers on her Patreon where she wonderfully breaks down this book and the play Macbeth as a rising Shakespeare scholar. But also, please go and read the reviews by Scottish readers and their problems with this book. The last thing that I will bitch and moan about is that Reid literally pulled a Braveheart by having the warriors in the last battle scene go out in blue war face paint . . . This was a historical YIKES for me.

Despite all of this though, I would like to thank Del Rey Books and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. I really really REALLY wanted to like this.

Publication date: August 13

Overall: 1/5 ⭐️

I had high hopes going into this but sadly they were quickly dashed almost from the moment I started reading. The writing itself was hard for me to get through as it reads like it was straight out of the Shakespearean era, then we have Lady Macbeth who is a waifish young woman who is like the prettiest girl who ever lived and even the fact that her gaze could make a man go crazy doesn't stop MacBeth from wanting to marry her.

Nothing about this story worked for me, the writing, I didn't care about the characters or what was happening in the story. I found myself bored and skimming through the middle. The end was mildly more interesting, but it didn't make up for the rest of the book.

I love Ava Reid, and I really wanted to love this book to, but it fell a little flat for me.

The story overall is very interesting with queer undertones and witchy vibes. But there's only so much I can take about abused women before my eyes start to hurt. There is a lot of SA and physical abuse in this book that just hurts. But, again, this is a retelling of Lady Macbeth, so I expected it.

Overall, the story is good and I do recommend it, but I think her other works are just stronger.

From the moment I read the beginning sentences of this novel, its haunting voice, and atmosphere shrouded in shadows immediately pulled me into the immersive world that Ava Reid created, I think that one of Reid's greatest strengths is creating this sort of all-encompassing feeling while reading her works, where once you're reading her writing, nothing else exists except you and this story,

Though at first, I found the book difficult to get into, mostly attributing to being thrown into the deep end of the world, with new terminology, and world-building that I wasn't yet familiar with. But after I hit the 20% mark, I became much more invested in the story and went on to finish the rest of the book within a day.

Overall, I loved the blend of Scottish folklore, and magical twists and fantasy elements, which gave this story its own life. My only criticism is that Lady Macbeth (also known as Roscille) was more passive than I anticipated, and the plot didn't feel like it was being driven by her very much at all. If I could separate this novel from Macbeth itself, all in all, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book and will continue to read anything that Ava Reid releases.

This book kind of sneaks up on you, and I think that’s why it may land differently for different readers, but I really enjoyed it. Those who know the source material will in particular be expecting a particular kind of story because Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s more action-packed stories.

But this is a quiet book in many ways. The style and time period feel like something from another world, a big contrast to Reid’s last book, A Study in Drowning. The remote Scottish castle, the brutality of politics, and the complete lack of feminine safe spaces really stand out. As always, Reid is masterful in creating an atmosphere that feels completely unique and yet grounded in a specific time and place.

Lady Macbeth herself is also not exactly like the Lady Macbeth of the play, a change I think may bother some, but which didn’t bother me. She feels fully realized and to me, fully aware of her own power, though she’s not wielding it openly.

This is an eerie, mystical book about power, gender, and conformity that will set you on edge and that means it’s done its job.

Thank you to Del Rey for my copy in exchange for an honest review.