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Reviews tagging 'Death'

Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

106 reviews

dark inspiring mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: N/A
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

๐˜๐˜ง ๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜ด๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜บ, ๐˜ช๐˜ง ๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ, ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ฏ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ด. ๐™‘๐™š๐™ฃ๐™œ๐™š๐™–๐™ฃ๐™˜๐™š.

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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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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. Thatโ€™s it. Iโ€™m mostly just sad that itโ€™s over

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dark slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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dark fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Okay....

I will link my video review because I do not have the time to type out all of my thoughts at the moment, BUT I do want to warn everyone that this book is <b> full of anti Scottish xenophobia </b> that is  not confronted nor unpacked in the story.

Forget the boring depiction of Lady Macbeth, or the horrific
rape scene that is immediately followed by a sex scene with a love interest that is simply considered good because he didn't rape her even though he wanted to
, or the dragon shapeshifter. The real downfall of this book is the constant description of Scottish people as uncivilized, blood thirsty, patriarchal, brutes while the English were given enough grace to seem sexist but civilized. 

I cannot in good conscience recommend this book, and if I am honest I do not think I will be reading another Ava Reid book any time soon. 

Video Review: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DA6KAZCAbl1/?igsh=aXFuNXppbmN6NHJy


Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark hopeful tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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dark tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

No I have not read Shakespeareโ€™s MacBeth, for better or worse- I just know that Lady Macbeth is an evil and powerful villain, which subverts a womanโ€™s otherwise forced docile role under patriarchy.

Alright so, this is a retelling thatโ€™s supposed to be more feminist, as itโ€™s told from the Ladyโ€™s pov. Itโ€™s true, Lady Macbeth does survive and get what she wants in the end so thatโ€™s an overall feminist retelling. But the execution was not giving 

Spoilers ahead: 
Our main character Roscille, Lady Macbeth, is 17 years old and a noble lady, who apparently has a witchโ€™s magic to put any man under her spell if she looks him in the eyes. Thatโ€™s cool and helpful.

In a political alliance, Roscille is married off to Macbeth, who is evil and violent. On their wedding night, to delay sleeping with him, she gives him quests to complete which he does honorโ€ฆat first.
During the following weeks, she does Macbethโ€™s bidding and uses her enthrallment powers to kill for him. She obviously has power to make men kill themselves, so why does she not kill Macbeth sooner, or at least try to escape! 

As the weeks wear on, she sheds her former innocent sheltered self, and becomes a morally grey character to protect her life. I was hoping she would put her powers to good use and escape, or machinate a grand murder of Macbeth or a coupe to prevent Macbethโ€™s rise to power.
Roscilleโ€™s character seemed young, naive and just lost for far too long in the plot.

The last 10 pages are when she kills Macbeth, and it was foretold in a prophecy, not even by her own hand. 
Anyways, at least it is a happy ending for her, she marries a prince she loves, so they rule as King and Queen

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

Expand filter menu Content Warnings