Ava Reid’s prose is beautiful as always, it was so easy to get lost in the atmosphere that she’s created here. I’ve never read the original play so if you’re approaching this book looking for a faithful retelling I cannot be the person who tells you whether it is or isn’t, my lens of this story is how it exists on its own.

I think that there’s some great stuff here and the story held my attention through to the end. The end did feel quite rushed, and it made the slow pacing of the rest of the book feel off in comparison. I wish the last chapter could have been expanded in another chapter or two, with that time being taken from somewhere in the middle of the novel which felt the slowest in my opinion. So much happens so quickly in that last chapter that I was left with a bit of dissatisfaction when I finished just because of how quickly everything seems to just wrap up so neatly after an entire book of twists and turns.

I have seen some other reviews saying that Roscille completely lacked agency, and while I don’t completely agree I do wish that her power in the story could have been stronger. She goes through most of the book appearing to outsmart all of the men around her and setting everything up for herself, only for that to not be the case and it makes all that she did before feel wasted, though perhaps that was the point. Overall there's a general lack of nuance narrative-wide that as I begin reflecting on the book after finishing it left a lot of room for interesting conversations that unfortunately didn't happen. I think especially the attitude towards the Scots as a whole paints them all with a very broad brush in a negative way, which is something I think could've been handled somewhat differently.

My other complaint is the romance subplot. I think that had this subplot been removed, the story would have still worked the same and that it wasn’t necessary. I feel that it was so underutilized and explored that it was more of a detriment to the story, and it either needed to be focused on more and given more depth than what we got, or removed completely. It could go either way and I would be happy, I was just again dissatisfied with the pacing of the relationship development/the male love interest’s development as a whole and to an extent their motivations, but I won’t go into more detail to avoid spoilers.

Overall, this is not my favorite Ava Reid book but still a good read despite the qualms I may have with parts of the story. I wish I could give it five stars as this was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, but the pacing problems in particular took it down to a four for me.

The Scottish Play!


I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’m currently taking a Shakespeare class in school so it felt to read some retelling outside of class. I’m glad that Lady Macbeth is able to a more satisfying ending than that of the original play.

The writing was phenomenal, I loved the prose. The pacing of the book was well done too. It didn’t linger too long in one spot. I’m glad it was divided up into Acts like the original play.

I felt Lady Macbeth’s character was executed beautifully. She was a very dynamic character with complex thoughts and i felt that was well represented in the writing.

Final note, killing a unicorn should be punishable by death.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

I have never read Macbeth, so I went into this completely blind. Lady Macbeth, or Roscille, is a 17 year old girl who is given to Macbeth by her father, as is usual in this time period.

Throughout the book, we learn some unsavory things about Macbeth, like his proclivity for collecting witches and general violent tendencies. So, we understand quickly he isn’t a man of strong morals. But I wasn’t convinced that Roscille is any better. She thinks herself above the Scottish people and considers them barbaric and brutal, so she comes into this marriage prejudiced against him and his court. Her prejudice was brought up often and generally made me uncomfortable.

She is unhappy as the marriage is against her will, as any woman would be. Because of this, she attempts to sabatoge him and essentially get him killed instead of attempting to get to know him at all.

I understand the underlying feminist ideals of how women are treated as property and she seeks her own agency, but her actions did not seem justified. I wanted to see her as cunning intelligent, but many of her plans are clearly the machinations of a 17 year old and she came across naive and childish.

Our love interest comes along, Lisander, and it felt incredibly forced (Also why was he a dragon? Im confused). It seemed as if the only reason she liked him was because she could choose, which was not enough of a reason to end up with him in the end. She knows women in her society are seen as brood mares, which is why she tries so desperately to escape her marriage with Macbeth, just for her to end up married to another monarch. She sought independence through many plots and schemes, just to end up as property of another man in the eyes of society.

It was well written and attention grabbing, but I didn’t find any of the characters very likable.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC.

eARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley.

At the heart of it all, this book is about Roscille, Lady Macbeth, who is just a girl trying to survive and I couldn’t help myself rooting for her in every scene. I love her strategising mind and the way she uses it as a weapon to survive.

She also has her many vulnerable and lowest moments which I think shouldn’t define her as a weak protagonist but something that hones her into a resilient person.

To be honest, I forgot about most of what happens in the original Macbeth play since I read it years ago for school but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment while reading this book. In fact, throughout the book, I was able to recollect main plot points of the play that I had forgotten.

I also loved the fantasy elements and the romantic elements mixed in since it adds a little spark to the plot.

Expect witches, romance, mythical creatures, curses, revenge.

ARC provided by publisher— Ballantine— in exchange for an honest review

4.5 ★ rounded up

This might be Ava Reid’s best work yet- a gothic reimagining of Shakespeare’s Macbeth grants the readers the point of view of Lady Macbeth, getting her point of view of the horrors she is forced to face. It went straight to the point, something I was happy to see after A Study in Drowning took some time to really get into the plot, the tension was immediate and never faltered (unfortunate for my poor heart) yet despite this, I couldn’t put the book down until I got the rewarding ending!! The cover is so pretty too,, completely supporting her rightt and her wrongs!!!

A dark reimagining of Macbeth that turns Lady Macbeth from a conniving murderess to a cunning girl fighting for survival. And makes Macbeth out to be the sole orchestrator of his own demise.

I enjoyed it immensely!

It is similar to Ava Reid’s previous works in that it tackles difficult themes around womanhood and incorporates folklore that is appropriate for the story. The prose is exceptional as usual. I personally like Reid’s use of the different historical names for the locations in the story, playing into the theme of true names having power.

While it contains a dark atmosphere, like Reid’s other stories, the gloominess of fits very well with the story and somehow differentiates itself from the other works.

Reid adds fantastical elements to this existing piece of literature that feels natural in the story.

It took me a few chapters to really get into the story, and I felt the relationship between Roscille and Lisander as well as Roscille and Senga could have used a few more scenes to make the emotional buy-in have a more impactful payoff in the climax of the story. But there was enough for it to not really bother me.

As a fan of Ava Reid's other works I was so excited to be approved for Lady Macbeth. Unfortunately, this retelling didn't work for me. For the positives: Ava Reid's writing is always beautiful and atmospheric—it's one of the reasons I love her books so much. But the downsides of this book outweighed the positives. I found the changes from the original story strange. Why is Lady Macbeth a teenager? Why is her only power in her beauty? Between Lady Macbeth & ASID, Reid seems to be spending a lot of time writing characters who are too beautiful for this world and it gets exhausting. We get it, you're pretty. Also the way the Scots are described is wild. Why are the Scots characterized as overly brutish—we spend so much time talking about how terrible they are, but overall I didn't think Macbeth seemed that terrible in this. Maybe Lady Macbeth was supposed to be immature and inexperienced, but I don't think that was a good change from her original character. The addition of the dragon felt random and only served to make this align more with fantasy.

I was pretty disappointed with this.

★★★★★ - 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid
༘Spoiler free ༘
⭐️4.625/5
🌶️
Fantasy, Dark Romantasy, Classical/Mythological
➳ Medieval Scottish Setting
➳ Shakespearean Characters Reimagined
➳ Curses
➳ Circe x Wolf Hall
➳ Dark
➳ Morally Grey Characters
➳ Feminine Rage
➳ Witches & Mythical Creatures

✨ “If she cannot have safety, if she cannot have love, at least she can have this. Vengeance.“ ✨
A dark and twisted reimagining of Shakespeare’s Lady MacBeth, Ava Reid introduces us to the tale of Roscille, a cursed young woman raised in fear and isolation, before being shipped off from her homeland and wedded to MacBeth. Her only friend is murdered upon arrival by MacBeth’s brutal court, and she is cloistered away from the people of Glammis. Shaped from birth by her father to be a cold creature, Roscille is armed with her mind and beauty to do his bidding. But what happens when that mind begins to dream of a just world, and no longer wishes to be a weapon that allows others to bleed for her lies?

📚📚📚

❧✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*❦*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧❧

I absolutely inhaled this book, and was unable to sleep until i completed it. Roscille grew up feared by men and women alike, cursed by a witch and trained to become a weapon for her father to wield. Her understanding of the outside world, other cultures and other courts was shaped through the education provided by her father. The closest person to her is murdered by her husband’s court upon her arrival and marriage to Lord MacBeth. His court proves more sinister than her father’s, and she is forbidden to have any other women in the castle with her. Isolated from the people of Glammis, her only knowledge of the land she lives in comes from her father’s horribly xenophobic teachings, and the absolutely brutal men who make up MacBeth’s court. MacBeth’s fatal flaw is his ambition and greed, but he is certainly darker than his shakespearean counterpart. Roscille’s fatal flaw is ignoring the power she has, and feigning innocence. With power comes responsibility, and i truly appreciated Roscille’s character arc and growth upon this realisation. Her first interaction with a non court-member of Glammis introduced Roscille to what her people were truly like. Roscille began to dream of a just and merciful world for herself and her people, and took accountability for her actions and chose to use her power to avenge the innocents. It is here we saw the difference between MacBeth’s greed driven ambition, and Roscille’s ambition for justice.

The pace really sped up about halfway through, and I found myself wanting to savour every time Lisander graced our pages. I would have loved to see more of him, and would honestly love a book that follows up on the characters.
Put this at the top of your TBR for August 2024.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

💖
LIKES:
⋆ Ava Reid’s beautiful prose
⋆ The journey of feminine rage & accountability for your power
⋆ This was a perfectly dark romantasy and reimagining of MacBeth.
⋆ The lore included in this novel was beautiful, and i’d love to read more reimaginings of classics or mythology from Ava Reid

❤️‍🩹
DISLIKES:
⋆ None to note

**Fantasy Scoring**
Worldbuilding ➷ ✅ 5/5
Foreshadowing ➷ ✅ 4/5
Plot ➷ ✅ 5/5
Relationships ➷ ✅ 4.5/5

Thank you to the Ava Reid, Del Rey, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide my honest opinion on the ARC of this book.

Ava Reid's Lady Macbeth winningly fuses the scant facts we have from the historical record and adds magic, ambition, and rage to create a protagonist worthy of the title of Shakespearean villainess.
Roscille has been treated as unnatural and strange since birth - her beauty is otherworldly, and her eyes are said to drive men to madness.
When she marries the intimidating Macbeth, she asks for a couple of items that are nearly impossible to get in order to delay the wedding night and her possible death in childbirth. He may humor her, but he has already heard the prophecies of the three witches uses Roscille in order to achieve his foretold destiny.
Various side characters come into the story, mostly men, each posing a different type of danger to Roscille.
While I don't think the magical elements of the story were necessary to make this a wonderful read, I appreciated the way the author blended it along with the human aspects of the story. There is nowhere Roscille is safe throughout this story, except within the power she holds, and we see her relentless quest to harness it, along with that of previous victims of Macbeth.

Overall: 3.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Plotline: 3.5/5
World-Building: 3.5/5

Romance: NA
Spice Factor: 1
Themes: 4/5
Writing: 3.5/5
Enjoyment Factor: 3.5/5
Review: The reads very much like a Shakespearean tragedy. There is a lot to take in with the places, nobility, and how all the politics fit together in the beginning, but it eventually comes together. Roscille is a fascinating character as she has a mix of timidity and ruthlessness, leading to many interesting aspects of the story. The story didn't go in the direction I anticipated. I do wish the climax was longer as I feel like it sped through near the end, and I wanted her to have her revenge in a longer, more satisfying way.

In this captivating read, the author masterfully weaves a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Through a blend of richly developed characters and a meticulously crafted plot, the book offers a unique exploration of its central themes, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the story's depth and complexity. The narrative is paced perfectly, balancing moments of intense action with thoughtful reflection, ensuring that readers are hooked from the first page to the last. The author's ability to evoke emotion and create a vivid, immersive world is truly remarkable, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for an exceptional literary experience.

Beyond its compelling storyline, the book stands out for its insightful commentary on the human condition, weaving philosophical questions into the fabric of its narrative. The author's skillful use of language not only enriches the text but also elevates the reader's experience, offering new perspectives on familiar themes. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of relationships, the exploration of identity, or the confrontation with ethical dilemmas, this book tackles complex issues with sensitivity and intelligence. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the nuances of life, making it a valuable addition to any book lover's collection. Regardless of genre, this is a work that resonates on multiple levels, affirming the enduring impact of well-crafted literature.

I so very rarely rate books this low, but this was honestly a huge disappointment. I can’t speak on the similarities to the original, but I was under the impression that this would be a more magical retelling. Roscille’s magic had the potential to be really interesting, but she barely did anything useful with it.

I felt for Roscille and the situation she was forced into, but I didn’t really find her to be an empowering female character. A lot of the bad things that happened were partly due to her own poorly thought out plans, and her husband actually treated her better than expected. The romance was extremely random and not believable at all, and what was even the point of the dragon? The only positives for me were the witches and the fact that this was a quick read.

Thank you to Random House Publishing for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing for an ARC in exchange for honest feedback.

I had high expectations for this one - I am a huge fan of Billy Shakespeare, I love his original works and typically fangirl over any retelling. When I read the description for this one I was so excited to consume it ... however, once I started reading it was apparent that this was going to be a huge let down.

I enjoyed A Study In Drowning by Ava Reid and found the way she writes to be beautiful - so I was hopeful that she would bring that magical prose into this piece.. I was disappointed to say the least.

Lady MacBeth, Roscille, in this reimagining is a huge let down. We are told that she is going to be a strong feminist character, but she seems like anything but. She's so young (17) and has a hard time navigating the new marriage that she's in - she's being abused and tormented. She is anything but empowered, she keeps getting knocked down over and over again. I thought there might be some salvaging with the romance between her and her the dragon, but unfortunately that also is a flop. The characters don't have much depth and it was challenging to care about what was going on. I wish that Roscille used more of her magic throughout the story.

What I did like about this piece were the witches in the basement. They provided a sense of comedic relief.

I was beyond thrilled to receive this as an ARC through NetGalley and I thank Random House Publishing so much for providing me with this opportunity.

I have to admit....I was disappointed by this book. I absolutely love Shakespeare and historical fiction novels and so I went into this with super high hopes! I also adored Reid's ASID book last year and it was one of my favorite reads of 2023. However, this fell short. .

I think Reid tried to do way too many things in a short book, mermaids/witches, dragon, murder, deceit, all while trying to get us to have empathy for Lady Macbeth, or at least have some amount of compassion for her. I don't think the characters were developed very well, and it was disappointing to see many of the times I wanted to know more about the characters and know more about "WHY" things were the way they were or what was happening.
For example, with the dragon....like I understand the basis of the 'monster within' metaphor but it was only a part of the book for like 3 chapters and then that was it. I was wanting more development and more storyline. Lady Macbeth is a strong feminine character in Shakespeare's history and unfortunately, I feel like Reid missed it.

I did enjoy the book overall, but would not recommend this book to lovers of the Shakespeare play.

This book is lyrical and mysterious and dark. It breathes life into the classic story of Macbeth and sheds a new light on the darkness that lay beneath the tale. It serves as a reminder that not all is as it seems and, perhaps, there was more to the story than what was originally told.

It pulled me in and kept me enraptured in the journey of survival of Lady Macbeth. This book is haunting and riveting. It’s a stunning retelling of a worldwide classic of the side that had failed to be told.

Absolutely beautiful.

Wowwwwww.

Thanks delray and netgalley for letting me review this book.

Lady Roscilla is married to MacBeth by her father as a token of alliance. After growing up in a court both beautiful and vicious, she travels to the cold shores of alba to take her place as Lady of Glammis. Young and scared, oft whispered about and veiled to protect the minds of men, Roscilla knows what place she should fill in this new court- silent obedient wife. But it seems MacBeth was called to this marriage not just for allegiance or beauty, but for the strange power the girl possesses. Their futures entwined, MacBeth plans to wield this power to make himself King Hereafter.

I read A Study in Drowning earlier this year and really feel in love with the ...gothic whimsy of it all? I loved the style and looked forward to whatever Reid would write next...and then to hear it was going to be this? I. WAS. HYPE. And I was not disappointed. This retelling gave me everything I didnt even know i wanted. If you come to this hoping for a behind the scenes thay follows the plot of the play from the lady's eyes, this is not that faithful retelling. I would honestly have been fine if Reid leaned into lady macbeth being as evil as the bard created, but giving Roscilla this character arc, the development of her sense of herself and the dangers of female life and power in that time period, the growth she experiences through so much pain...it was a journey and i LOVED IT. This book was just SO GOOD.

it would be a tough read for some though, so cw for murder, injury, imprisonement and assault-physical/emotional/sexual.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an arc of this book! Lady Macbeth is a retelling of the Shakespearean play 'Macbeth'. It follows Lady Roscille rather than her husband in the original. We get to see the story through her eyes and what she went through in order to become the so called villainess in the play. I wouldn’t call her a villain rather I would say she is more of a victim getting revenge for all she’s been put through and rightfully so. I loved how the book read like a play at times too. It is a page turner of a book. I had to stay up consecutive nights to finish; I could not put it down. When I did finish it, it left me staring at a wall reflecting on what I had just read. This novel is a literary masterpiece and Ava Reid did a wonderful job of bringing Lady Macbeth to life. She gave her the justice she deserved.

𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 8/6/2024
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Fantasy / Shakespeare Retelling

𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: Roscille, the witch-touched daughter of a Duke has been married off to Macbeth, Thane of Glammis, at 17 years old. The veil she wears over her face keeps men safe from her magic stare, but it doesn’t hide that she is shrewd and cunning. She becomes her husband’s blade and weapon. Her wits are what will keep her alive in this land of brutes.

𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞: I've read other Ava Reid books and I have really liked them and liked her prose. I…I don’t think this was a book for me. It felt like fan-fiction that had a few (bad) changes from the original play to make it into more of a fantasy. Basically Lady Macbeth is the heroine?? and the magical main character.

This book is a retelling, but insists on making her a child bride even though she’s been played as a Middle Aged woman since the 1700’s. You could have done anything with a retelling but this just didn't do it for me. It also totes the “feminist” take which I think is WAY off.

I thought that Roscille acted like a semi-cunning, conniving, and selfish child. She truly only cared for herself. She’s a villain and not a hero, which maybe is the point? Anyway…She’s okay with sacrificing entire towns to maker her half-cocked plans “work out.” Her hands will never be clean of the blood shed she’s caused, and for what purpose? Is she actually magic, because from what I gather her father made up the fact that she is witch-touched because she's pretty?

I have some other issues; The Scottish men are shown as brutes but there’s no reason as to why. We’re just suppose to accept that these people are heartless heathens. Is her companion actually killed or is she just imagining that? Don’t get me started on the laundry-Witches and the freaking dragon (which seemed to have no real reason to be in this book).

Lady Macbeth tells the story of one of Shakespeare’s most infamous characters, but from the female gaze.

I’ll be honest, I’m not well versed in Macbeth. I remember reading it in high school, but I don’t really remember all of the details of the story.

I enjoyed Reids more magical interpretation of the story. Truly embracing Lady Macbeths connection to the supernatural. This book also humanizes her in a way that we don’t get to see in the original.

I found the pacing of the story odd. It would drag at times, and then feel like it’s speeding through the plot. This reimagining in my opinion could have taken more risks. It felt more like a reinterpretation or retelling based on Reid’s interpretation of the source material versus a true reimagining that could have expanded the story, lore, and world.

Ultimately I liked this book, but I didn’t think it did anything remarkable.

Thank you to netgalley, Random House Publishing, and Del Rey for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Macbeth remains one of my favorite works of the Bard, an intriguing tale of fate, ambition, and the supernatural. This book, however, fell somewhat short of encapsulating the magic Shakespeare was able to imbue in his work. A flipped version of the story, pulling from the original and painting Lady Macbeth in a more cunning light, sounded like an absolute must-read; yet, Lady Macbeth’s growth throughout the novel is disjointed and fails to put forth the conniving, ambitious woman that Shakespeare alludes to in her famous monologue (“Screw your courage to the sticking place!”). Reid’s Lady Macbeth does influence the story, pushing Macbeth into his battle and using tricks to set a trap for his folly, but at no point did I feel the character's true feelings and ambition find their way into the plot.
One thing I can truly commend the author on is her research and use of language to set the scene, I appreciated the nod to old dialects throughout the involved countries. The acknowledgment of far older tales of Lord Macbeth, including first wives not mentioned in the Bard’s retelling, added a layer to the story that could be exciting to those unfamiliar with the original historical accounts. The incorporation of themes such as women’s exploitation and the nature of a monster really added to the experience of reading this book.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this novel, though it fell short of the advertised female rage-centered plot. I would encourage anyone who enjoys the Shakespeare retelling of the play to give this book a go!
*** While I received a free ARC from NetGalley, all thoughts and opinions given in this review are 100% honest. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC***