Unfortunately, I would not recommend this to people who are fans of Macbeth, mainly because while a “retelling,” it did not feel like one. I went into this expecting it to be very similar to the actual Macbeth, and for the main female character to be an absolute trailblazer, and ended up disappointed, unfortunately.

This was such an atmospheric, imaginative, feminist retelling of Macbeth—I loved the lore Reid baked in in terms of geopolitical dynamics, and loved seeing Lady Macbeth as an underestimated woman who used the tools available to her. A unique, gripping, insightful retelling.

I was insanely excited to read this book, but am super disappointed by it. The grandiose way of writing was honestly so terrible. Ava was both saying everything and nothing in one sentence.

I was really excited for this, as retellings can be some of my favorite, but only if they’re done right. This one for me, was a miss. The biggest thing I was excited for within this story was a feminist retelling of MacBeth, giving our fmc much more of a story than is depicted in the original and unfortunately it feels like she lost all of her character in this one.

The original gives her much more personality, agency and passion than this book delivers, and I think so much of that comes from Reid’s writing style which didn’t fit right for me. The atmosphere was absolutely there, and I can appreciate the ambiance this book sets the story in, but having the main character be a huge miss for me was to damning to look past for me.

Once again, Ava Reid's atmospheric, gothic, and lyrical prose hooked me from the beginning and I was enthralled with this story from the first page. It felt like the intersection of two kinds of storytelling I almost always enjoy (and I know Ava Reid writes well) - dark fairy tales and haunting gothic novels and I thoroughly enjoyed this reimagining of Shakespeare's play.

Roscille is a kind of female protagonist I always love to read about - a girl willing to do whatever it takes to survive in the harsh world she is born into. She's complicated and flawed and only 17 years old (and feels accurately written as a 17 year old). She's cunning, clever, and occasionally ruthless but also scared and gentle-hearted. I loved the layers explored with her character - even if it wasn't the characterization most people would expect in an exploration of Lady Macbeth.

Writing style-wise and thematically I found a lot of overlap between this and A Study in Drowning (one of my favorite books from last year and honestly of all time) but I didn't love it quite as much. I wanted a little more depth from the other side characters - particularly Lisander and the romance between him and Roscille. I really enjoyed what we got but it felt a bit rushed for my liking.

I think a lot of people (particularly those who have read Ava Reid's other work) will wonder if they need to be knowledgeable about Macbeth to enjoy it. The answer is no. In fact, it may be better if you don't. I only have vague knowledge of the play myself (tragically it was not one I studied in school) and, based on the polarizing reviews I've seen, I think that worked in my favor. It's a loose reimagining that can stand on it's own and if you've enjoyed Ava Reid's writing in the past you'll likely enjoy this as well. If you're looking for a 100% faithful retelling featuring a more typical characterization of Lady Macbeth, you'll likely find this to be disappointing. However, I think if readers who are more familiar with Macbeth go in with the expectation that this story will be different, they could enjoy the references, themes, and reinterpretation of the story.

The writing on this was absolutely beautiful. But man, did I struggle with this. I really could not get past the fact that the feminine narrative read as “men bad, women good”. Where is the strong willed, stop at nothing to get what she wants Lady Macbeth that many of us love? I felt that Roscille was defined solely as whatever the men around her said. She can literally control men with her eyes - how is this world not hers. I just don’t understand. I thought we’d be getting a Lady Macbeth who is unabashedly herself. Who says what she wants and thinks. Is not scared of a man. But unfortunately that’s not even close to what we got.

Also, I felt that there was some strong xenophobia. Why are the Scots constantly described as brutish, evil, ugly, cruel, etc. but with very little actions to see this being the case in the story. The only man she doesn’t have an issue with is one that’s not fully Scottish. At all times Roscille just seems to assume the men, no matter that they do, are evil. It just leaves a weird feeling reading. Sorry to any Scottish people reading this bc I feel like you’re being portrayed unfairly

This was a DNf unfortunately. I honestly think that Reid is just not the author for me. I also think this book was marketed different than the actual plot... Which was unfortunate. I also wish there were more shakespear elements.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Oh, Lady Macbeth, how do I talk about you? Ava Reid is one of my favorite fantasy authors, and while I think there’s plenty of criticism to be had in their work like every other author, I am usually so entranced by their writing that I can overlook a lot. Despite the mixed reviews I had seen before I picked this up for myself, I was hopeful that I’d be charmed once again by them. Things didn’t quite work out, though.

I really liked what Reid did with their prose in this, and I found it easy to read. The writing itself worked extremely well for me and they made some craft choices I really enjoyed, so it’s a shame I feel so mixed about the actual content (though I will say, I think Reid’s fanfiction past shines through way more in the quality of their prose here than any of their other books. It’s got the same quality of a Yuletide fic, I suppose). There were some fun bits for sure, like the dragon, but they were ultimately few and far between, though I mostly felt neutral while reading. I would have liked this so, so much more if it hadn’t been a Lady Macbeth retelling. I’m unsure as to why the Lady Macbeth we know was reduced to a meek seventeen year old French girl, but I thought it was an odd choice that took away agency from the original character and wasn’t particularly interesting. There are important criticisms about the portrayal of Scottish people that I’m not equipped to review, but I do see what all of those reviewers are saying, and I do think it made for a weaker story, because ultimately I don’t think this was doing anything particularly new, which is usually why I’d reach for a retelling. I don’t actually hate Roscille as a character, but I think I would have liked her much more had she been a completely original character, and had this been an original story rather than a retelling. I don’t think the issues I had would have felt so apparent then, but it is what it is.

I don’t think this one is for fans of Shakespeare or people looking for a feminist retelling of Macbeth, but it’ll probably find its audience.

So grateful to NetGalley for an ARC if this book. Unfortunately, it ended up taking me forever to get through...

I didn't love this adaptation. I believe this is also my first Ava Reid book, so I have no prior opinion of this author. I wanted to love this so much and it fell flat for me in so many different ways. Parts of it kept me entertained and continuing to read the book, but there was something that felt a bit offputting throughout the whole story.

Originally, ady Macbeth is a character strong-willed and motivated. She goes for what she wants and faces the consequences. I initially thought this adaptation was an effort to ramp up this character and make her more independent and strong. A retelling from the woman's perspective where she was secretly the one running the show. Not exactly. One of the things that felt uncomfortable was how often the Scottish were repeatedly referred to as brutish and violent. As a romance reader, I'm familiar with all the big-man-small-woman tropes but with this politically motivated story, and the racial connotations, just felt really uncomfortable and purposeful in a way I didn't love.

The other main thing that left me questioning was the portrayal of our heroine. The constant references to her beauty and control over men was offputting. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for powerful women using their wiles to influence men, but this felt more like we were getting information about her through the eyes of men. Expecting this to be more of a feminist portrayal, it became more and more irritating to see our heroine objectified in this particular way. It was giving "16th-century witch that must burn," and I didn't love it.

Enough hating on it. There was quite a bit that left me bored and irritated, but obviously, I kept reading, and there were parts that held my interest. As previously mentioned, I am fond of a woman using her wiles to lure men to their end, and although much of it felt like we were seeing her through the eyes of men, the moments in which we got her manipulative side were rather satisfying.

It's a bit difficult for me to explain what I did enjoy because most of the bits I disliked were very much tied to what I didn't like. Although the writing felt too flowery, some of it was beautifully written and there were some moments that really tied the book together in a way that was satisfying to read. Although the constant harsh portrayal of the Scotts felt a bit biased and maybe racist (??) the typical arranged marriage story flpped on its head without a romantic subplot felt new and was a bit entertaining because it wasn't played out how it normally would be. I think my main problem with the book as a whole is that it wasn't the feminist rage story I think we were all expecting. The heroine felt entitled and out of her league, and was not redeemed when I think she needed to be. This is a gothic, dark story, but it wasn't done in a way that felt particularly tense or revenge-focused in the way I think this story should have been told.

I know most of this review has been negative but I'm finally writing this after a month from when I finished the book, and the parts that are sticking with me is what I didn't like. I am always in support of reading for yourself and determining if you, as an individual like the book. It just wasn't for me. Again, some moments of plot and writing were fun and unexpected, but there was a racial weirdness that very much felt uncomfortable to me and I still feel it.

It was fine, and I enjoyed it enough to continue reading without struggling through the book. Try for yourself and see what you think.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overall Rating: 4 Stars

Lady Macbeth has the power to induce madness in men, coerce them to do anything she requests just by meeting their gaze. She is to be wed to a lord of Scotland, a man so brutish she did not imagine he had occult secrets of his own, following prophecies to ensure his rise in power. Together they are powerful, but separately she is even more so.

Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid is a reimagining of the classic story Macbeth by Shakespeare. I want to preface this review by saying I have never read or watched any rendition of the classic Macbeth story, so this was my first experience.

I'd like to start with the cons of the book first, I really loved this story but there are only a few things I feel negatively about. The story starts out very slow, a lot of time is spent inside Roscille's (Lady Macbeth's) inner monologue thinking back to her home life and worrying about the changes that will be brought about in her new home in Scotland. It took around 60-70 pages for me to really feel engaged in the story, which is a bit long for me personally.

She speaks to and thinks of Hawise her handmaiden very often and very fondly, only for her to be cast aside very soon into the story and it feels like she is only brought up throughout the rest of the book to express a certain level of Roscille's sadness or worries. Maybe this is evident in the original Macbeth story somehow that makes it make more sense, but Hawise's part of the story on its own felt very hollow.

Aside from those two things, I truly loved reading Lady Macbeth. It is a story of a woman coming to realize the power that she has despite how the society around her holds her back. She is forced and told that she was created only to fit the mold that the men around her make, she is to do what her husband says and only for his benefit, and despite the hardships she faces she aims to defy that fate. She is constantly struggling between trying to be Roscille, a strong woman who wants to pave her own way, and Lady Macbeth, a tool of destruction set inside Macbeth's hand.

For those who have read Macbeth prior to picking up this book, she is still Lady Macbeth, but the path she paves is much different and I think you would still enjoy this book. As someone who didn't read Macbeth, I can also safely say that you do not need to have read it to enjoy this reimagining.

In typical Ava fashion, this was dark and moody, subtle yet creeping like a cold that sinks into your bones and you can’t shake. While I admit I can’t speak to how close this was to the source material, I did enjoy the twist on perspective and deep dive into the female perspective.

While this wasn’t a new favorite, I do think it’s successful on its tone and mission of highlighting the quiet power and force of a woman, the ways we are forced to survive the narratives and pushes around us, and how those survival decisions and actions lead to ripple effects. I did feel there was a lot of telling vs showing when it came to Roschille, without diving into her own person and psyche. She’s set upon us as just immediately trying to survive her own marriage without getting much else from her, while I can see how that’s top of mind for her and her motivations, I did want to glimpse other aspects of her desires. It felt one note and did drag a bit when she felt more symbolic and emblematic of female subjugation and the threat of violence instead of a character and person on her own.

This book felt difficult for me to read, the writing and how the names/places always changed. Unfortunately, I did not make it far and only read about 30-40 pages.

Ava's rendition of Macbeth is eerie and gripping. Her writing makes the story so captivating that it will have you turning the page before you even finished reading the first.
Ava has a way with words when it comes to writing. Which is why I fell in love with A Study in Drowning. When I heard she was writing this book I was so excited to read it, and she did not disappoint. I never read Macbeth but I do enjoy Shakespeare's other work. I was given the opportunity to read an ARC of Lady Macbeth for a review from Netgalley.

The story was compelling from the moment I started reading it, that I didn't want to put it down.
It follows Roscille, a girl who has entrancing beauty that is allegedly cursed with witchy powers. She has been used, manipulated, and then discarded without an afterthought from her father.
When she is sent off to marry a Scottish warrior, who is known for being fierce, unrestrained, and brute; she must resort to her wit, vexing beauty, and witchcraft to survive.

It is a world filled with scheming, calculated mind games, manipulation, and supernatural elements in a dark haunting atmosphere. It is perfect for readers who like a dark gothic fantasy books.

My least favorite of Ava Reid’s books, it took me a while to get into and I had a hard time understanding the main characters motivations at first. I did think it was easier and more enjoyable to read once I read the synopsis of the Macbeth tragedy even though this is a very very loose retelling of the Shakespeare play. I thought it really picked up after the Third Act, honestly who doesn’t love a vengeful woman?

Thank you netgalley for this eArc!

As usual, Ava Reid's atmospheric storytelling made this the perfect book to read heading into the fall season. As a theatre nerd and appreciator of Shakespeare, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and am glad I did. But there was one small let down for me. Every time I have studied Lady Macbeth she has been a cunning and cold hearted mastermind. The complex women pulling the strings in the background. We did not get to see much of that from this version of Lady Macbeth. Now, since this is a retelling, I actually appreciate how our protagonist is a bit younger and more demure than the character we've all come to know. Setting her up in this way would have been the perfect way to take readers on a journey of complex character development where we see how the young maiden became the calculated Lady Macbeth. We did get to see some of this, but in this aspect, the book fell a little short for me. I just wish we had seen a bit more of her cunning and cruel side towards the end of this story. All in all I did enjoy it, and I will continue to read more Ava Reid in the future.

Gothic fantasy retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth with Lady Macbeth as the star of the show - I’m so in. As a self-proclaimed Shakespeare girlie, I was so excited to see Ava Reid do this, but you don’t have to be familiar with the play to enjoy this book.

The Gothic atmosphere and the fantasy elements (witches of course and more) made this a perfect October/fall read.

The star was lost due to my misplaced expectations. I always imagined Lady Macbeth as a middle aged woman conspiring with Macbeth with her own agency. Reid’s Lady Macbeth is a 17 year old new bride from a foreign country just trying to survive. Again, this is a me problem.

Thank you Del Ray and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.

If you enjoy a witchy book with a Macbeth retelling and a misunderstood character, this is for you. A feminist and a dark retelling all in one. I will say, quite a few times I also DNFd it because the pacing and the ending also went rogue for a retelling. But the writing and setting can be so atmospheric and beautiful..

Thought provoking and highly unconventional retelling of Macbeth. I thoroughly enjoyed this modern version, about woman self exploration and empowerment.

I love Ava Reid's work, but this one fell a bit flat for me! I will say that I have not read the original Macbeth, so I didn't have any idea what to expect from the plot. However, I was a little disappointed to find that this "feminist retelling" did not feature many female characters and our MC did not feel like she had any agency for most of the book. I understand that she is a teenage girl in an awful situation who is doing her best, though. My other issue was the writing style. This felt SO overwritten, I found myself re-reading lines so many times to try to grasp what was being said. While I do enjoy some flowery prose, this was just too much for me!
Overall I just wanted so much more from this, but I hope that Reid's future works will capture me in the way that A Study in Drowning did!

I enjoyed the dark, atmospheric setting, beautiful prose, and fantastical elements. I didn’t feel drawn in by the story nor feel any connection with the characters. It felt very loosely related to Macbeth rather than an actual retelling, so adjust your expectations accordingly. It was not my favorite of Ava Reid’s works unfortunately but I still think she does gothic fantasy very well.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for gifting me an electronic ARC.