Ava Reid’s retelling of MacBeth follows Roscille, Lady MacBeth, as she is introduced to a new world through marriage in Scotland.

I would like to start by saying I have never seen or read the original Macbeth but I have a google answers knowledge of the storyline.

I liked the beginning of this book. It wrapped me in its cold arms. I think Ava Reid has a way of writing that makes you say “oh!” In wonder and disgust one right after the other. She delivered beautifully gothic prose in this story. I enjoyed the beginnings of romance between lasander and Roscille. If this book would have continued down that same path it would have easily been 4 stars.

I should have DNFd this book.

I actually had a lot of issues with this book. I feel bad being so negative because I was so looking forward to this book! I feel like the synopsis gives the impression that she is cunning and witty and going to manipulate and girlboss her way to the top. She doesn’t. To start, Roscille is described in the beginning of the novel as being wise and decisive and able to read people. I was excited about this book through the first few chapters because I wanted her to use her witt. She does not use her wit. She really just complains. A lot. Most of it is about men. It seems to be a “feminist” retelling but it is the “men bad, women good!” variety. The trouble is that pretty much all the men seem pretty alright. It’s really annoying because we’re supposed to hate Macbeth, who seems genuinely good until the last 1/4 or so of the book. We are supposed to feel like Roscille is being forced to be a certain way by all these brutish men, but she is actively making decisions for herself based on how she feels a woman is supposed to act. She is saying “ugh these men make decisions for women and define them to suit themselves, that’s awful! Now off to actively allow these men to mold my decision for me and define me to suit themselves!” When she gets to the castle she loses any semblance of ambition and character. She immediately decides MacBeth is dumb and only wants a pretty wife to objectify and abuse. She is surprised when he doesn’t do this but still holds fast to that idea. Every character is brutish and brainless, big and scarred and ugly. The only characters that weren’t, weren’t fully Scottish. That seemed sour to me. Pretty much every character was one note and stayed one note the whole book. The only intrigue I had was when the royal family was introduced. Also I think we were made to believe that MacBeth was beginning to ascend into madness, but it didn’t show. I assume this because he had a wound that he refused treatment for and it was brought up pretty much constantly for the last 1/4. If you’re going to talk about something so much, give it good reason. My final grievance is how much certain words and phrases are said, “ignominy” “chafed” and “bloodied sheets and bloodied thighs” are just three easy examples that come to mind.

This book was at its best when Roscille was actually thinking and not just complaining about the awful terrible Scottish, and the awful terrible men, and the awful terrible world that forces woman to be with awful terrible men.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for the arc of this book.

This book... This book is a top five read of all time for me. Every page is breathtaking to read, and the journey of Roscille is full of the heartbreak, and rage, and relentless hope that we as women have all felt in our lives. It is a masterpiece that so accurately and beautifully depicts feminine rage, struggle, and vengeance. It takes a play centered around the madness of a man and peels back layers upon layers to give a striking commentary that has such dedication to historical accuracy and respect for the original work. This piece will sit with me for a long, long time, and for that I am so grateful to Ava for her writing. I have never felt so seen, so heard, and so raw as I did reading this, and reconciling with my own fears about womanhood and the violence of the patriarchal world around me. I cried with her, I raged with her, and I rejoiced with her, in her end.

This is a must read. This is a piece of art that is so evocative of the feminine experience that it's my first choice for those in need of learning. I think everyone should read this book, just to learn, to feel, and to grow.

Truly breathtaking, and exquisite, and all the fantastic praises I can think of to offer to Ava Read.

Brava.

Disclaimer: While I read Macbeth in a high school English class over 10 years ago, I only remember the very general plot and barely any of Lady Macbeth's role in the original play. As such, this review is written based on how well I feel this book stands on its own. Apologies to any hard core Shakespeare fans.

Roscille is a young French girl who is sent to Scotland to marry Macbeth. Throughout her life Roscille has been told that she is cursed, a witch, and can enchant men just through her gaze. Veiled, scared, and alone, she tries to adjust to her new life as the only woman in the castle. Thrust into a tense political environment, Roscille finds herself being used as a pawn by the other characters, all of whom think that they can both utilize her "power" and take advantage of her femininity. As she learns secrets about her new husband's rule and the lore of her new country, Roscille begins to discover just what her status can truly give her and how she can take advantage of those who discount her. Macbeth is not a hero, he is a man craving power and is willing to take whatever steps he needs to gain it.

Reid's writing is atmospheric and dramatic and does an excellent job of helping the reader visualize the dreary castle and Roscille's feelings of isolation. The first quarter of the book moves pretty slowly and it took me a while to get pulled in. The part with the dragon was...strange (the story could have done without this and the plot would be unaffected). As someone who is not a Shakespeare aficionado, Lady Macbeth recalled enough of the bard's work without requiring me to pull up SparkNotes to remind myself of the characters. Overall, Reid did an excellent job of putting her own twist on a classic without relying on the source material to carry the plot.

Ava Reid has done it again with this haunting yet beautiful gothic inspired story. I can honestly say that I have never been more enthralled, disgusted, and entranced by a story all at the same time.
I am unfamiliar with Macbeth but was completely captivated by the story of Lady Macbeth and her disastrous choices that led to the death of so many people. The start of her tragic life, being trained by her father as a spy, sold by the same man only to be dehumanized and the dagger in the hand of a brutal husband.
This vicious story of vengeance had me up way too late to finish the story, and boy oh boy was it a good story indeed.

Ava’s ability to intertwine magic systems with her style of verse leaves me bewitched every time.

As a fan of Ava's writing and coming off of just finishing ASID, I GASPED when I saw that I was approved for this arc (thank you NetGalley!).

Ava's signature story telling is front and center in this Macbeth reimagining. The words and phrases they are able to spin to create this world is truly a talent.
While I personally enjoyed this book and asked the question "What if" about Lady Macbeth, I will say, if you are a Shakespeare enthusiast/purist, this book is not for you.
But if you are interested in reading a tale inspired by Shakespeare's most controversial play, this book is for you.

This was one of my most anticipated reads. I was so thankful for the arc. I just love Ava Reid’s writing.

While I wouldn’t say this was the fastest read and I had to be in the mood to pick it up, every time I did I was enthralled. This book has it all…tension, pain, witches, mind games, scheming.

Overall this was a great retelling and I recommend picking it up.

“Lady Macbeth” is about a young seventeen year old girl, named Roscille- who is cursed with witch powers! She is sent to Scotland by her father to wed a great warrior, Lord Macbeth. It is unknown territory to her as she sets on her journey before she assumes her infamous role, focusing on her resilience and cunning in the face of adversity among men!

This is book was AMAZING and Ava Reid is a genius in putting a spin on this original play! You don’t have to know the play to understand this novel! Reid explores themes of power, greed, ambition and the conditions in humanity, offering the readers a refreshing outlook on this old tale! My favorite aspect that Reid highlights in the book is the empowerment in women! I love the strong female characters in her novels and the storytelling!

Each chapter had me at edge of my seat and I couldn’t put the book down with its heart-pounding plot! If you’re into dark, thrilling and breathtaking suspense- give this novel a shot! You won’t regret it! “HAIL, LADY MACBETH!”

Big THANKS to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Yikes. This was not good. Lady Macbeth was my second attempt at an Ava Reid novel (having DNFed the first). There were a lot of problems I had with this book. First was the writing. Some scenes felt like excerpts out of a middle schoolers attempt at a novel (bland and horrendously written), while others were trying so hard to mimic beautiful Shakespearian language but were so overdone that it was cringey. Second were the characters. Not a single one was likeable, and I hated every one of them. Third were the "twists" and "reveals", which were so predictable it pains me to call them that. I could go on, but I won't. The only thing saving this book from a one star was the fact that I was able to finished it (which was in part due to the fact that it was only 200 pages), although I wanted to DNF this book almost every ten pages.

If there's one thing about me, it’s that I love a retelling from the villains point of view. I blame my childhood obsession with Wicked (the musical, not the book). Though I don't remember anything
about Macbeth, I really enjoyed this book. It had a very dark and gloomy setting with very creepy and intriguing characters. Even a bit of romance that had me asking myself "Why am I into this?" The writing was very poetic and I found myself highlighting at least one quote per chapter. I'd say the only thing keeping it from five stars is that the plot didn't stick with me a ton and the pacing felt a bit slow. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Roscille is a seventeen year old French woman, sent to Scotland by her father as a bride for the warrior, Macbeth. She finds herself in unfamiliar territory with only her wits to help her. Doing whatever she can to survive, Roscille plots and schemes to avoid being yet another woman used by yet another man.

I devoured this book, finishing it in two days. Ava Reid did what Ava Reid does best and created a dark and gothic world that explores controversial topics. Much like A Study In Drowning, this is very atmospheric and leans into it heavily. However, what we get in Lady Macbeth is feminine rage coupled with cunning strategy to overcome the situation Roscille finds herself in. I was not familiar with the original work of Macbeth so I cannot speak to how it honors Shakespearean play. That being said, I do not think it is necessary to have read the original work in order to read and enjoy this book.

My only complaint is that the first act is slow. It took me until the second act to be fully immersed and find myself not wanting to put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

An interesting reimagining of Shakespeare's Macbeth that is filled with rage, cunning, vengeance and power. Plus the eerie atmospheric setting and complex characters make this such a fascinating gothic tale.
Looking forward to more by this author.

After reading every single book that Reid had put out, this book simply didn't work for me sadly.

Like every other books from Reid, this one also contain her beautiful signature prose and an immaculate sense of atmosphere. But unlike her other work, i found myself not enjoying the characterization of Lady Macbeth in the slightest here and found that a lot of her characteristics from the original are striped away to the point where I found myself questioning if this even needed to be a retelling at all to begin with. On the other hand the other characters are so bare bone, generalized and not fleshed out in the slightly (also the way Reid went about writing about Scottish people were questionable and borderline uncomfortable) .

This book is devastatingly and hauntingly beautiful. It's a retelling of one of the greatest tragedies, but this time, it's from our Lady Macbeth's point of view. The pain, love, and strength she exudes leap off the pages, gripping your heart and soul.

I went in with high expectations, and remarkably, it lived up to every single one of them. The author skillfully brings Lady Macbeth's inner world to life, unraveling the layers of her emotions in a way that's both heart-wrenching and captivating. You can't help but empathize with her, understanding the depths of her struggles and the complexities of her character.

Ava Reid paints Lady MacBeth in shades of vulnerability and resilience, making her more than a tragic figure. It's a book that lingers in your thoughts, leaving an indelible mark long after you've turned the last page. If you're a fan of powerful storytelling that tugs at your emotions, this is an absolute must-read.

I do love a tale retold! Especially when it's from the POV of the villain. And Lady Macbeth (mostly) delivers. The story starts with the marriage of Lord and Lady Macbeth; our main character alone, unwilling, and a pawn of her father. Lord Macbeth in this tale is the power-hungry scheming one and his wife is the not-so-enthused accomplice. Nefarious deeds go down and as Lady Macbeth comes into her own power, she manipulates the story to her aims. The witches still play a part, as in the play, but not as expected.

Overall, Lady Macbeth was an enjoyable read and a neat take on the story. Thanks to NetGalley for the free read!

I have a soft spot for tales infused with feminine rage! There’s something soooo good about a woman taking revenge against the despicable men who’ve wronged her. And it’s a retelling of Macbeth? Sign me up! After enjoying A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid last year, I immediately preordered ‘Lady Macbeth’ upon reading the synopsis and recognizing the author. It’s a darkly whimsical take on the classic tale, but focused on Lady Macbeth, and Ava’s storytelling shines through. While it’s enjoyable even if unfamiliar with Macbeth, knowing the original story enhances the experience. Absolutely loved it! Posted to Instagram and Goodreads as linked.

This book was just not for me. I really wanted to love it as I love the original Macbeth by Shakespeare. I wanted this one to have that strong female role but it failed to do so. It had a lot of things I didn’t like and I don’t want to bash the author or anything but I don’t think this was throughout well. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

🔹SYNOPSIS 🔹
Roscille is a seventeen year old French woman, sent to Scotland as a bride for the warrior lord, Macbeth, in an effort to secure an alliance between her father and Macbeth. She is thrust into a dangerous and brutal new land with nothing but her own wits to keep her safe. As she fights for her life in a foreign land, she uses whatever means necessary to avoid becoming a pawn in yet another court.

🔹MY TAKE 🔹
Ava Reid’s signature dark and gothic world building and lush prose has hit its mark once again. I will say this is a very loose retelling of the story and I found it to be more of a reinvention of the entire tale. Those who were coming for a retelling might not be pleased with the liberties Reid has taken in re-writing the characters from the play. I, myself, enjoyed the story for what it was - a study in feminine rage, desperation and the absolute misogyny of medieval times. Reid’s writing of young Roscille’s experience makes her fear and panic at being such a young bride in a foreign land incredibly palpable. I would venture to guess that it’s a more accurate portrayal of the experience of women of that time. They were truly pawns in a game played by men. Roscille’s desperate maneuverings to avoid her husband’s displeasure and ensure her safety was met with both success and failure in varying degrees and her attempt to gain allies and keep track of all of the lies and webs she was weaving kept the tension of the story and the plot moving quickly. I was surprised at the clear fantasy elements - dragons and unicorns and actual magic. I hadn’t been expecting those and I don’t know that they were entirely necessary. I did love the ending for Roscille and the role that the witches played in the story. Reid’s writing is fabulous and I found myself highlighting quote after quote after quote . Overall, I was really engrossed and thought it was a great read! I would highly recommend it with the caveat that it significantly differs from the original tale of Macbeth and there are some mature themes and content.

I’m just starting to explore the historical fantasy genre and I was pleasantly surprised by this story! It was a nice mix of romance and fantasy. I can’t speak to the historical aspects of it/comparison to Lady Macbeth’s original telling but I was definitely intrigued by it

Why would you even choose to retell the story of Macbeth when you so clearly hate the Scots, desire nothing more than a Y/N Wattpad-worthy FMC, and don't stay true to the power of the original material? Why would you do this to Lady Macbeth? And, literally, what is with the unexplained Xenophobia towards Scotland? I desperately hope this isn't claimed as a feminist title because the lack of care or regard for women is astounding. This isn't prized literature. I wouldn't even call this fantasy. This could have been written as something new and bad but instead it was marketed on the work it clearly had no regard for. I can't even think clearly because this was just that dreadful. The only thing I can compliment is the writing style and even that was only a 2/5, because good Lord, this book really think Lady Macbeth is a scheming powerful girlboss when in reality she is a paper-thin excuse for a female protagonist. The only character she had was driven by Reid's decision to make all of the Scots in the story brutish, thuggish, uncultured, animalistic stereotypes of neanderthals. And the only good man is the English one? Did Scotland personally kick your puppy, and that led to you forever portraying all Scots as abusive, women-hating barbarians? This literally could have been excused by explaining that such descriptions were part of the world from Lady Macbeth's eyes, but no. I've heard about the xenophobic attitude towards Scotland in the Study in Drowning book as well. And finally, the thing that put me over the edge--- why did Lady Macbeth need to be an itty bitty little thing with big badonkers? Grow up.

Reid's "Lady Macbeth" is quite different than its source material. This title captured my attention because Reid always carves out interesting worlds and simply because "Macbeth" is my favorite Shakespeare work. A title that promised to focus on Lady Macbeth and offer readers a rare look into her motivations, past, and relationship with Macbeth sounded like an excellent read. However, this Lady Macbeth is a pale imitation of the one, who spun her fate and her husband's.

Roscille hails from Breizh. She comes with a veil to protect the men from her gaze, and as the bastard daughter of a father, who emulates the characteristics of an ermine. Unaccustomed to the brutish and wild ways of Scotland, Roscille finds herself at a crossroads. She can either be a dutiful wife or she can attempt to wield fate into her own hands. Throughout the story, the Lady wobbles between being the submissive and dutiful daughter and spinning a web of her design to escape the clutches of Macbeth and his faith in prophecy.

No one can create a world and atmosphere like Reid. Her version of ancient Scotland and even the world from which Roscille hails is wholly unique and original. She carefully skates around the tumultuous relationship between our understanding of the past, and the actual reality of names, customs, and fragile relationships between these burgeoning cultures and countries. Her command over this period truly creates a sense of a world unfamiliar and full of conflict, magic, and men seeking their glory. The truth behind a tragedy is fondly remembered with a different understanding and a masterful ability to evoke ancient traditions and settings that beguile.

However, Roscille and perhaps, Reid lose their way about halfway through the story. It starts out promising as Roscille is introduced to the court and the customs of her new land. She attempts to forge her path, but quickly, successively, and repeatedly falls prey to the men around her. There is no sense of agency in this Lady Macbeth. The story instead resorts to a lot of beautifully written prose and musings on her entrapment, which is enchanting but does not contain a well-developed character arc or constitute a feminist re-telling by the actions of the character alone

It would also be fine to re-textualize the character of Macbeth, but his personality seems to shift halfway through the book. He goes from including Lady Macbeth in all the court dealings and entrusting the castle to her to simply a caricature of an uncaring and abusive husband. This character shift only seems to happen to justify the unleashing of the monster at the end and to see Roscille survive through the end. It is an interesting re-telling, but Macbeth and Roscille, their motivations, and their relationship are flat and one-dimensional. This story simply exists to extoll the tired storyline that men are bad, but women persevere. It works fine, but I expected something more complex than this.