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Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Blood, Murder, War
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Abortion, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Rape, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, War
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Abortion, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Lady Macbeth is author Ava Reid's reimagining of Macbeth- but from a woman's perspective. Reid's writing made this a super fun read, albeit dark. Roscille is sent away by her father to be married to Lord Macbeth, in a completely different country with a different language, customs, without the support of her handmaiden. We get a glimpse into Roscille's secret, which the reader knows more and more about as the book goes on.
The best part of this book is Roscille's intelligence, masked (no pun intended) behind her position as a mere Lady. Ava Reid's A Study in Drowning was one of my favorite reads of last year, and the writing style does not disappoint in Lady Macbeth. I really enjoyed her reimagining of the classic, and this book contained the perfect touch of fantasy.
Parts of the plot are a bit muddy, but this could be due to Ava's writing style (which I enjoy regardless of the content). Others may say that her writing is pretentious and too flowery, but her take on this Shakespeare classic will definitely wow her fans!
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, War
Moderate: Suicide, Abortion
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Abandonment, War, Classism
Moderate: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War
Ava Reid is one of my favorite authors, so this was one of my most anticipated releases of 2024. That being said, I think this is my least favorite of their books, although that could change with time as I think about it more or if I decide to reread it. Definitely not a bad book though, I just have complicated feelings about it that I will try to articulate.
From the very beginning, Ava Reid's prose had me in a chokehold. There is something about her prose, both lyrical and concise, that captivates me and I truly think they are one of the best writers currently publishing novels. While sometimes the metaphors in this book got a bit overused (particularly with the ermine), I loved the writing style and was constantly underlining things in my eARC. That said, I struggled to read this for long periods of time because this book deals with some very heavy topics.
When Roscille is forced by her father to marry MacBeth, she is both terrified of getting trapped in the cycle of breeding and birthing that is the burden of married ladies and determined to do whatever it takes to escape that fate. She has found that her gaze can entrance me and she uses this to bend them to her will. Roscille is a fascinating heroine because she is both tragic and terrifying. Some readers will probably find her incredibly unlikable in her ruthlessness, and yet, I could not help but root for her in the end. Ava Reid has really turned this classic tale on its head and I cannot wait to devour whatever they write next!
Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Suicide attempt
Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, Torture, War
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, War, Injury/Injury detail
Lady Macbeth is a magical, devastating, and beautiful retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. It walks a thin line between being inspired by the original text and retelling the story, as it exists within the same world but varies greatly from the original story. I believe this makes the book perfect for anyone, whether they are fans of the original play or not.
Lady Macbeth has always been one of Shakespeare’s most interesting characters, even from the male-centric story of Macbeth she shines through and captures the audience's attention. Hearing the story from her point of view is so interesting, it gives voice to her manipulations and schemes and helps us understand that she never wanted to be a monster but that is the role the men in her life forced her into. In this story she is even able to find comfort and love in the other outcasts of the world and find a way to forge a new path for them.
I have so many wonderful things to say about this book but if I continue I’m sure to spoil something so I’ll end with saying; this book is a must read for anyone interested in stories that give voices to women that have previously been drowned out by men. It also doesn’t hurt if you enjoy Shakespeare, but having knowledge of the play is not instrumental to the enjoyment of this book.
Thank you to Ava Reid, her publication team, and NetGalley for allowing me to enjoy an advanced copy of this magnificent book!
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Abortion, Murder
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt