Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

25 reviews

jazjoyner91's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

spellbindingtomes's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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

Reviews for this book seem to be decidedly split, with readers either loving or strongly disliking Ava's approach - and I'm firmly in the 'love it' camp. Ava's enthralling writing pulled me out of my recent audiobook slump, transforming Shakespeare's classic Macbeth with a dark, witchy feminist lens that completely reimagines one of its central character. 

As someone who's always been a fan of Shakespeare, I was captivated by how Ava added magical elements and depth to Lady Macbeth, creating a narrative that diverges dramatically from the original play. 

The atmospheric prose and witchcraft elements make this an ideal fall read. It's a fresh perspective that turns a familiar story into something entirely new and unexpected. If you enjoy retellings that challenge your understanding of classic characters, this book delivers a provocative and immersive experience that lingers long after the final page. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and War

swagmaster3000's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

God just an incredible read. So much sexier than expected, and the power given to lady Macbeth is so so glorious. Def recommend, also ..,..,:,,.. lisander. That’s it. I’m mostly just sad that it’s over

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Classism

lauren_popov's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I loved this book — perfect witchy and gothic vibes for fall. The characters are deeply flawed and deeply complex. Ultimately this is a story of female rage, vengeance, and the reclaiming of power and autonomy. Roscille is unlikeable in every way and morally black — we are not supposed to like her and not all readers will connect with her. In fact, I believe the majority of readers will not connect with her. She is a seventeen year old girl with no female guidance and no ability to choose for herself, so to gain self-agency she makes morally black decisions — she knows blood is on her hands but she also knows HER fate if she doesn’t not take action. Her actions are deeply cruel, manipulative, and self-serving. She knows she is a monster which means she is wiser and kinder than those who do not openly show their demons (referencing a quote from the Coda). The writing and language is lush and beautiful but I do wish the mythical creatures (dragon & unicorn) were more flushed out. But overall, this is a thought provoking and worthy read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, and War

chloebaboey's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Abortion, and War

perth_is's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I heard about this book and thought it sounded really interesting, so I picked it up. 

"Lady Macbeth" is a reimagining of Shakespeare's infamous play. In this novel, the Lady knows everyone's dirty secrets, and she is hellbent on exacting her revenge. She thinks she will have the upper hand, but she does not know that her new husband has his own supernatural gifts, and that he will not go out without a fight. 

I really enjoyed that this novel was a retelling/ reimagining of one of Shakespeare's most beloved plays. I felt like this novel did the play justice, and stayed authentic to the original storyline and characters. However, this novel does take a new-ish approach, and it follows a different character, which was fun.

Lady Macbeth was a powerful character and point of view to read from. I could not help but root for her, even when I knew she was doing things that were not great. I do think there were moments that she was so blinded with her mission to bring down these people that she did not see clues that were right in front of her that could have helped her avoid some of the challenges that she did ultimately face. It was frustrating to read, but I do think it made her character feel more authentic. As much as I enjoy a strong, female character, I do think Ava Reid was a little too fixated on how to make this a feminist retelling. Because of this, I do think the story and the character development of Lady Macbeth suffered slightly.

Because this is a reimagining of a very famous play, I did know where this story was going. I do not know if that is why I struggled through some parts of the plot, but regardless, there were moments of the story that did drag for me. It took me a little longer than I would have liked to finish this story. I do wish the author would have taken more creative liberty and elected to do something more creative, but that is more of a personal preference, and not a reflection of the author's work.

Overall, I think this was a fine novel that has an audience. This was my second novel from Ava Reid, and I am left feeling very much how I did after reading the first: this is fine, but did not blow me away. 

I would still be willing to read Ava Reid in the future if she writes something that really captures my attention, but I am not dying to pick up anything new from her either. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

teresaelj's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I am a big critic of retellings that are just retellings. This version of lady Macbeth really reminded me of what being a woman in this time was really like. Lady M is often depicted as a manipulative cold calculating witch but in this version you see lady M as a woman just trying to survive in a world that wants to destroy her. She is named witch. She is named a blade. But she is never seen as just a young girl struggling to make the right choice when every choice is wrong. The journey she takes from young girl just getting by to queen battling for not just herself but others is brilliantly done and Reid never ever fails to write so beautifully. I particularly enjoyed the ending and the portrayal of the Witches; it almost seems more realistic as to what really would have been had men not been the scribes of the history. This book almost makes me resent Shakespeares depictions of women- it really makes you think. And as a feminist- it is a must read when truly seeing men as they are.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War

agw622's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book is intense. I love how it does make Lady Macbeth much more sympathetic than the play makes her. However, she is bound to her fate, and it does get dark. Personally, I do not think it's as strong of a feminist reclaiming of her charecter as some suggest. While I think she is more her own person, she is very much limited in what she does. Also make sure to check trigger warnings

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

kdegroote905's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, and War

Minor: Sexual violence