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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
auteaandtales's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I’ve never read anything by Ava Reid before but I love Lady Macbeth as a character so I thought this would be a good place to start.
TLDR; I didn’t really like it, it’s not my cup of tea and I didn’t like the direction it went in but I will still read more from this author before I decide whether or not this author is for me.
Firstly, I knew I was taking a chance with this, as retellings are very hit and miss for me (and usually miss). The main thing is that the stories are something you’re very familiar with, so you know exactly where it’s going. Even if you don’t, you can easily guess where it’s going. It’s not impossible to write a story that’s interesting when you know exactly what will happen, but, unfortunately, I wasn’t interested here (although I do appreciate that Reid didn’t over explain events that were occurring, she trusted us to already know, which I did like).
The second thing about retellings is that we already have some sort of connection with the characters, and those characters can mean a lot to a lot of people, so it can be hard to navigate that and create your own interpretation while still appreciating the original texts. I don’t think this did that, in my opinion, but just because this particular version of Lady Macbeth wasn’t for me, I don’t think she’d be universally disliked. I can see why some people would really like this. I love that Lady Macbeth is so cunning, manipulative and intelligent but this version of Lady Macbeth is the complete opposite. We are told she’s intelligent but I didn’t see evidence of this. She was only defined by the men in her life, and that’s it.
I did really like the ending though. roughly the last 10% of the book, but I wish we had that for the rest of the book as well.
I also don’t like how feminism was dealt with here. It did a very shallow interpretation of it, in my opinion. Feminism is much more than “women are always good and men are always bad”. There was so much that could have been done there, such as showing Lady Macbeth as both the manipulated and the manipulator.
Saying all that, I didn’t hate it. I don’t think this is a bad book. It just wasn’t for me, a lot of it didn’t work for me, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work for other people. I can see why this would be loved, I especially think the dark exploration of a “behind the scenes” to Macbeth will be especially interesting to a lot of people.
Thank you to Netgalley & publishers for the review copy!
TLDR; I didn’t really like it, it’s not my cup of tea and I didn’t like the direction it went in but I will still read more from this author before I decide whether or not this author is for me.
Firstly, I knew I was taking a chance with this, as retellings are very hit and miss for me (and usually miss). The main thing is that the stories are something you’re very familiar with, so you know exactly where it’s going. Even if you don’t, you can easily guess where it’s going. It’s not impossible to write a story that’s interesting when you know exactly what will happen, but, unfortunately, I wasn’t interested here (although I do appreciate that Reid didn’t over explain events that were occurring, she trusted us to already know, which I did like).
The second thing about retellings is that we already have some sort of connection with the characters, and those characters can mean a lot to a lot of people, so it can be hard to navigate that and create your own interpretation while still appreciating the original texts. I don’t think this did that, in my opinion, but just because this particular version of Lady Macbeth wasn’t for me, I don’t think she’d be universally disliked. I can see why some people would really like this. I love that Lady Macbeth is so cunning, manipulative and intelligent but this version of Lady Macbeth is the complete opposite. We are told she’s intelligent but I didn’t see evidence of this. She was only defined by the men in her life, and that’s it.
I did really like the ending though. roughly the last 10% of the book, but I wish we had that for the rest of the book as well.
I also don’t like how feminism was dealt with here. It did a very shallow interpretation of it, in my opinion. Feminism is much more than “women are always good and men are always bad”. There was so much that could have been done there, such as showing Lady Macbeth as both the manipulated and the manipulator.
Saying all that, I didn’t hate it. I don’t think this is a bad book. It just wasn’t for me, a lot of it didn’t work for me, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work for other people. I can see why this would be loved, I especially think the dark exploration of a “behind the scenes” to Macbeth will be especially interesting to a lot of people.
Thank you to Netgalley & publishers for the review copy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Misogyny
madlysoph's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I was lucky enough to read this as a digital arc from Edelweiss, an important thing to note as there is a note at the beginning that says some things may change in the book by the publication date, so take my commentary with a grain of salt.
As always, Ava Reid's writing is beautiful. I wouldn't say I liked this as much as I thought I would, I did like this book, but it wasn't life-changing for me. I will honestly say that I haven't read Macbeth which might have impacted my appreciation of this story and some of the themes and references.
For me, it felt like there was a lot of buildup throughout the book without a proportional payoff. The romance felt underdeveloped and there are moments where the story feels both fast-paced and slow-paced. The overall themes were executed well and were present throughout the whole story. The setting was interesting and new from Ava, the weaving of history, Shakespeare, and fantasy was done fairly well and the world was believable.
Roscilles character is very much a 17-year-old girl, she's smart and cunning, yet fearful and unsure of herself. I loved reading about her character and watching her grow throughout the book. This is a good book worth reading, I fully intend to reread it once it's released as a physical copy, and I will likely like it more once I reread it.
As always, Ava Reid's writing is beautiful. I wouldn't say I liked this as much as I thought I would, I did like this book, but it wasn't life-changing for me. I will honestly say that I haven't read Macbeth which might have impacted my appreciation of this story and some of the themes and references.
For me, it felt like there was a lot of buildup throughout the book without a proportional payoff. The romance felt underdeveloped and there are moments where the story feels both fast-paced and slow-paced. The overall themes were executed well and were present throughout the whole story. The setting was interesting and new from Ava, the weaving of history, Shakespeare, and fantasy was done fairly well and the world was believable.
Roscilles character is very much a 17-year-old girl, she's smart and cunning, yet fearful and unsure of herself. I loved reading about her character and watching her grow throughout the book. This is a good book worth reading, I fully intend to reread it once it's released as a physical copy, and I will likely like it more once I reread it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Violence
Moderate: Torture, Sexual violence, Abortion, Sexual harassment, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and War
the_rainydayreader's review against another edition
dark
slow-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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Blood, Rape, Murder, Violence, War, Misogyny, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
Minor: Miscarriage and Abortion
creadsfantasy's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book! Ava Reid is quickly becoming one of my all time favorite authors. I absolutely love how her settings are a character in her books and it's woven so flawlessly into the story, the character development and the plot. She took a story that almost everyone knows something about, and turned it on its head. She added her signature gothic style and the atmosphere was dark, dangerous, and haunted. There were so many quotable moments, moments where I gasped or cried, and the story still surprised me in so many ways. I loved how she chose to include the many names all of the characters would have had depending on the regional dialect and all of the historical research that went into the setting of this story. This will probably be one of my favorite books of all time and it will be difficult not to pre-order multiple editions of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Murder, Rape, and War
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
thekayles's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book... This book is a top five read of all time for me. Every page is breathtaking to read, and the journey of Roscille is full of the heartbreak, and rage, and relentless hope that we as women have all felt in our lives. It is a masterpiece that so accurately and beautifully depicts feminine rage, struggle, and vengeance. It takes a play centered around the madness of a man and peels back layers upon layers to give a striking commentary that has such dedication to historical accuracy and respect for the original work. This piece will sit with me for a long, long time, and for that I am so grateful to Ava for her writing. I have never felt so seen, so heard, and so raw as I did reading this, and reconciling with my own fears about womanhood and the violence of the patriarchal world around me. I cried with her, I raged with her, and I rejoiced with her, in her end.
This is a must read. This is a piece of art that is so evocative of the feminine experience that it's my first choice for those in need of learning. I think everyone should read this book, just to learn, to feel, and to grow.
Truly breathtaking, and exquisite, and all the fantastic praises I can think of to offer to Ava Read.
Brava.
This is a must read. This is a piece of art that is so evocative of the feminine experience that it's my first choice for those in need of learning. I think everyone should read this book, just to learn, to feel, and to grow.
Truly breathtaking, and exquisite, and all the fantastic praises I can think of to offer to Ava Read.
Brava.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
dontreadinsecret's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Blood, Violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Confinement
Moderate: War, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Minor: Abortion
folkofthebook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
A witch does not need a reason, only an opportunity...
Most men do not need a reason, either. Only an opportunity.
ava reid's macbeth retelling is dark, gothic, haunting, and even more brutal than its source material. while the scottish play examines lady macbeth in tandem with her husband, taking on (what was then seen as) masculine traits so they may succeed, this lady macbeth leans in to her strategy, her careful tactician in hopes of staying ahead of her husband.
"And now you are the dagger in my hand."
this marriage does not resemble shakespeare's couple who are typically revered as the most loving couple of all his work. lady roscille is sent to a wed a violent warrior as a peace offering for allegiance.
To cause lustful madness is one thing - any beautiful woman has that power, if she wishes to exercise it, even if she doesn't, even if such a thing can be called power. To mold a man to her will is another.
Madness, of all things, is the most unforgivable in a woman.
ava reid examines a woman's role in these harsh times; their duties, their roles as pawns, their powerlessness, their sufferings. this was an excellent addition to the evolution of witches in storytelling from cautionary tales & embodiments of sexism to icons of feminism and women's reclamation of strength.
Vengeance is not a wooden cup that empties. It is a jeweled chalice which endlessly spills over.
i appreciated her choice in the juggling of languages; she chose to be more true to the time period, where language was more fluid and constantly changing in domination. her vivid imagery and details truly set me right there in that damp, cold castle with piercing, briny winds. She calls in the symbolism of the iconic bloody hands as well as her own new ones: the unicorn, the eels, the necklace, the snake.
"I prefer a monster that shows itself openly."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Infidelity, Misogyny, Death, Murder, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Rape, Vomit, Death of parent, War, Self harm, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Abortion
ktkeps's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, and Sexism
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