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juliannareads's review against another edition
5.0
Ava Reid has done it again! Lady Macbeth is the Shakespearean reimaging I did not know I needed.
This is a study of the character of the infamous Lady Macbeth. A villainess of the highest order in Shakespeare’s tragedy. But what if she was a powerless 17-year-old woman named Roscille, growing up in a patriarchal society, making her way toward survival with her wits and her wiles? Roscille is afraid and she’s also ruthless, she’s vulnerable and impenetrable – she’s the perfect morally grey heroine. The feminine rage in this book is palpable.
This book is gritty and violent, and Reid immerses us so thoroughly in the world of Medieval Scotland that I can almost hear the ocean crashing on the shore. I feel the bite of the collar around my neck and the cold on my skin, almost as if I’m Roscille, Lady Macbeth herself.
This is a short book, just under 300 pages. Reid sets a slow pace, but with a feeling of foreboding, building slowly to the point of crisis and an incredible conclusion to the story. I sobbed at the point where everything comes together and Roscille makes a momentous decision. It was so powerful and moving.
There are fantasy elements of this book – think witches and dragons – but it reads like a historical or literary fiction, and I think this book will appeal to more than just fantasy fans. I definitely recommend picking this book up when it comes out in August. Huge thanks to @delrey for the free ARC.
#ladymacbeth #avareid #bookrecommendation #mustread #fivestarreads
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, War, and Gore
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
kabrahams's review against another edition
4.25
(I received a free eARC from NetGalley for review purposes.)
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!
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Blood, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Rape
Minor: Animal death, Torture, War, and Sexual content
petit_lecteur's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Death, Blood, Violence, Suicide, Body horror, Sexual violence, War, and Torture
mikaelawithak's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Gore, Rape, and Confinement
theresahasread's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Rape
Moderate: Violence, Sexual violence, War, Domestic abuse, Gore, and Sexual content
isaroy's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
This is an absolutely amazing retelling of Macbeth. It takes all of the madness and eeriness of the original story and makes it something even better. It shows masculinity at its worst. It is brutal and hard to read at times, but Lady Macbeth’s strength and Ava Reid’s beautiful prose pulls you through. This is beautifully written and you can see every scene in all its gory, dark detail. I had extraordinarily high expectations for this book (Macbeth has always been my favorite Shakespeare work and I enjoyed A Study in Drowning) and this somehow surpassed it. This is one that I’m going to come back to again and again. The way it balances the rage of womanhood with the fear of men is incredible. A must-read for sure!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Self harm, Mental illness, Infidelity, Gore, Blood, Abortion, Violence, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Murder, and Death
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