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behindpaperbacks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Xenophobia, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Rape
headcanonheadcase's review against another edition
5.0
I DEVOURED this book. A historical setting with myth and magic brimming with female rage? Yes please, and how can I get more of this?
Lady Macbeth isn't just for classical literature and Shakespear fans. Ava Reid breathes new life into this story by focusing on Lady Roscille, soon to be Lady Macbeth and possibly Queen Herafter if the witches are to be believed. Roscille is a witch herself and it's believed that her eyes can ensnare a man and bend him to her will. So, she is forced to wear a veil. For years, she's lived under the rule of her father and now Macbeth. But Roscille is cunning and cannot be tamed.
Be prepared to lose your mind over this book. The writing is so good. I loved how Roscille and Lisander were two halves of a whole. She was light and restrained, though she longed to be wild. He was dark and wild though he craved control. Ava Reid is a master and her writing is not to be missed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Lady Macbeth isn't just for classical literature and Shakespear fans. Ava Reid breathes new life into this story by focusing on Lady Roscille, soon to be Lady Macbeth and possibly Queen Herafter if the witches are to be believed. Roscille is a witch herself and it's believed that her eyes can ensnare a man and bend him to her will. So, she is forced to wear a veil. For years, she's lived under the rule of her father and now Macbeth. But Roscille is cunning and cannot be tamed.
Be prepared to lose your mind over this book. The writing is so good. I loved how Roscille and Lisander were two halves of a whole. She was light and restrained, though she longed to be wild. He was dark and wild though he craved control. Ava Reid is a master and her writing is not to be missed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
shebolebolee's review against another edition
3.0
Let me start by saying I have very mixed feelings about this one.
Let's start with what I liked: this book is well-written with beautiful descriptions. It's atmospheric. It's dark. It's a little bit magical. Every bit of Roscille's emotions trasnlate from the page and I felt every bit of it along with her. The ending, without giving spoilers, is also really well done and definitely an improvement upon that of the original play.
Which leads me to what I didn't like (which may include minor spoilers). This book should not have had anything to do with Macbeth. It shouldn't have used the names, it shouldn't be marketed as a retelling--it should have been its own entity, plain and simple. Calling it a Macbeth retelling and expecting everyone who is familiar with the play to know it is inspired by Macbeth was it's greatest downfall. The plot is muddled, the characters are assassinated, and only the barest hint of the plot comes through on the page. I can see where the author wanted to go with this, but I'll repeat what I just said: this shouldn't have had anything to do with Macbeth. She could have used the same plot and changed the character names, and I think only a few lines would have ever hinted at the play.
Another issue I had, which is where the spoilers come in, is that Lady Macbeth is, well, ruined. The badass, kind of crazy woman from the play is stripped here of all agency, all backbone, and made instead to be a clever yet cowardly young girl forced into a marriage she doesn't want. She is supposed to be a badass character pulling the strings, but really all her strings are pulled by the men in her life, up until the very end. The woman who orchestrated so much in the play orchestrates next to nothing in this book, and we're to believe that the play's version inspired this version? It's a loose inspiration at best--and a very, very disappointing one.
Taking away all affiliation with the Macbeth play, this book became much more enjoyable. It was a novel concept, and Roscille was easy to root for, especially by the end of the book. The writing is beautiful and the plot picks up a lot by about halfway through, with lots of action and even a surprising bit of romance.
I can't really tell you whether or not you'll like this book, but I can say one thing for certain: as long as you expect very little from the Macbeth side of things, it becomes a lot better.
Let's start with what I liked: this book is well-written with beautiful descriptions. It's atmospheric. It's dark. It's a little bit magical. Every bit of Roscille's emotions trasnlate from the page and I felt every bit of it along with her. The ending, without giving spoilers, is also really well done and definitely an improvement upon that of the original play.
Which leads me to what I didn't like (which may include minor spoilers). This book should not have had anything to do with Macbeth. It shouldn't have used the names, it shouldn't be marketed as a retelling--it should have been its own entity, plain and simple. Calling it a Macbeth retelling and expecting everyone who is familiar with the play to know it is inspired by Macbeth was it's greatest downfall. The plot is muddled, the characters are assassinated, and only the barest hint of the plot comes through on the page. I can see where the author wanted to go with this, but I'll repeat what I just said: this shouldn't have had anything to do with Macbeth. She could have used the same plot and changed the character names, and I think only a few lines would have ever hinted at the play.
Another issue I had, which is where the spoilers come in, is that Lady Macbeth is, well, ruined. The badass, kind of crazy woman from the play is stripped here of all agency, all backbone, and made instead to be a clever yet cowardly young girl forced into a marriage she doesn't want. She is supposed to be a badass character pulling the strings, but really all her strings are pulled by the men in her life, up until the very end. The woman who orchestrated so much in the play orchestrates next to nothing in this book, and we're to believe that the play's version inspired this version? It's a loose inspiration at best--and a very, very disappointing one.
Taking away all affiliation with the Macbeth play, this book became much more enjoyable. It was a novel concept, and Roscille was easy to root for, especially by the end of the book. The writing is beautiful and the plot picks up a lot by about halfway through, with lots of action and even a surprising bit of romance.
I can't really tell you whether or not you'll like this book, but I can say one thing for certain: as long as you expect very little from the Macbeth side of things, it becomes a lot better.
dgilbreath's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars rounded up! Big thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an eArc of Lady MacBeth by Ava Reid. While I have a physical copy preordered, I still applied for the eArc as soon as I saw it.
I have a soft spot for tales infused with feminine rage! There’s something soooo good about a woman taking revenge against the despicable men who’ve wronged her. And it’s a retelling of Macbeth? Sign me up! After enjoying A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid last year, I immediately preordered Lady Macbeth upon reading the synopsis and recognizing the author. It’s a darkly whimsical take on the classic tale, but focused on Lady Macbeth, and Ava’s storytelling shines through. While it’s enjoyable even if unfamiliar with Macbeth, knowing the original story enhances the experience. Absolutely loved it! Pub date is August 5th, 2024!
Also, OBSESSED with the cover!
I have a soft spot for tales infused with feminine rage! There’s something soooo good about a woman taking revenge against the despicable men who’ve wronged her. And it’s a retelling of Macbeth? Sign me up! After enjoying A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid last year, I immediately preordered Lady Macbeth upon reading the synopsis and recognizing the author. It’s a darkly whimsical take on the classic tale, but focused on Lady Macbeth, and Ava’s storytelling shines through. While it’s enjoyable even if unfamiliar with Macbeth, knowing the original story enhances the experience. Absolutely loved it! Pub date is August 5th, 2024!
Also, OBSESSED with the cover!
lizzillia's review against another edition
3.25
Published 13 August 2024. Sadly this re-imagining of Lady Macbeth did not work for me. Having read Ava Reid before, I was anticipating this but I think that having spent 15 years discussing the Shakespeare play with students, of picking apart the character of Lady Macbeth, all of that spoilt the book for me. I went into this expecting to see facets of the Lady Macbeth I knew and I didn't find them. This Lady M, Roscilla, is 17 and sent by her French father to be Macbeth's bride. Touched by a witch's curse, the rumour is that if a man gazes into her eyes, he is doomed and so Roscilla is always veiled. The court/castle that she enters is full of men, brutal men. Her handmaid is immediately sent away. Who does all the work - who knows? but Roscilla seems to be the only woman in the castle. She is terrified of the marriage bed and spins a yarn to avoid it as long as possible. So our Lady M, rather than being the strong, manipulative woman of the play is a 17 year old virgin plunged into a castle full of dangerous men who see her as a threat, a danger. It is a violent time and she suffers violence, she loses power and at one point is blindfolded so she loses her sight as well. But ultimately, I suppose, this is a story about her taking back ownership of her life. If I could have read the book as that - of a woman overcoming dangers to take back control of her life - I would have enjoyed it more than I did, but I kept looking for the Shakespeare references and finding them either missing or changed. Several times, I shook my head in puzzlement when something happened in the plot in a totally different way to the way that the event had occurred in the play. Ava Reid is a super writer and I will pick her up again as I thoroughly enjoyed A Study in Drowning. But sorry, this was one that was not for me.
scarletranger's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Ava Reid has crafted a beautiful voice for Lady Macbeth. Every word is cleanly chosen, every sentence amazingly crafted. This is, through writing style alone, a beautiful alternate universe of Lady Macbeth.
However, where the text struggles is in the title character. Lady Macbeth is one of, if not the most well-known of Shakespeare's villains. She is cold, ruthless, and calculating. And while this Lady Macbeth does have some cleverness about her - at least in political intrigue - she is unable to match the original's, despite the narrative trying to push that way. She's fails at nearly every turn to out smart Macbeth (she has been turned into a victim in this retelling), and is cowardly until the very end, when she pairs up with this story's true love interest. For a feminist retelling, it falls a bit flat on the feminist angle.
The writing really does save this work. It is gorgeously written, and I enjoyed reading this tale for the writing alone. While Lady Macbeth and the original story have gone through massive changes, this is worth a read for the writing alone.
However, where the text struggles is in the title character. Lady Macbeth is one of, if not the most well-known of Shakespeare's villains. She is cold, ruthless, and calculating. And while this Lady Macbeth does have some cleverness about her - at least in political intrigue - she is unable to match the original's, despite the narrative trying to push that way. She's fails at nearly every turn to out smart Macbeth (she has been turned into a victim in this retelling), and is cowardly until the very end, when she pairs up with this story's true love interest. For a feminist retelling, it falls a bit flat on the feminist angle.
The writing really does save this work. It is gorgeously written, and I enjoyed reading this tale for the writing alone. While Lady Macbeth and the original story have gone through massive changes, this is worth a read for the writing alone.
ewarnerburton's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
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
3.75
serenology's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
3.5
Thank you to NetGalley & Random House for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I truly contemplated on how I should rate this novel. Upon serious consideration, I'm giving this a 3.5. This is not a long story, but swallowing its contents felt like chewing on a very fatty steak. This book was very ambitious for what it was trying to achieve.
Obviously, Lady Macbeth is a reimagining of Shakespeare's Macbeth with a refocus on the titular character. In the play, her identity is solely Lady Macbeth and Reid gives her more substance in her version. Yet, this attempt at a female-centric take on one of the greatest plays in history, struggled under its own weight. Some aspects held well, but others crumbled.
The writing. This is truly Reid's shining moment here. Reid goes to great lengths to transform the nature of Shakespeare's verse and translate it into prose that resonates with the past while still comprehensible for the reader. And Reid excels at this truly. Her skill in writing well is prominent through this novel.
As for the plot and characterization, this is where it started to get rough. It tries to divert and honor the source material, but ends up ripping the script in half. Reid's Lady Macbeth has far less autonomy than Shakespeare's even though the narrative pushes for her freedom. The love interest can barely be called that as they share all of 5 scenes together. It didn't feel real, more like a tryst if anything.
The magic was fascinating in concept but it felt too clean--to convenient for the alternate plot. Lady Macbeth was not a character I was necessarily rooting for, but to be fair, all of the characters were villains in their own right--which was satisfying when vengeance was obtained.
Macbeth served as a tragedy and this was startling not so. I still question what this version offers in comparison. Nonetheless, I felt like this was a solid concept that just fell a little flat to my expectations.
I truly contemplated on how I should rate this novel. Upon serious consideration, I'm giving this a 3.5. This is not a long story, but swallowing its contents felt like chewing on a very fatty steak. This book was very ambitious for what it was trying to achieve.
Obviously, Lady Macbeth is a reimagining of Shakespeare's Macbeth with a refocus on the titular character. In the play, her identity is solely Lady Macbeth and Reid gives her more substance in her version. Yet, this attempt at a female-centric take on one of the greatest plays in history, struggled under its own weight. Some aspects held well, but others crumbled.
The writing. This is truly Reid's shining moment here. Reid goes to great lengths to transform the nature of Shakespeare's verse and translate it into prose that resonates with the past while still comprehensible for the reader. And Reid excels at this truly. Her skill in writing well is prominent through this novel.
As for the plot and characterization, this is where it started to get rough. It tries to divert and honor the source material, but ends up ripping the script in half. Reid's Lady Macbeth has far less autonomy than Shakespeare's even though the narrative pushes for her freedom. The love interest can barely be called that as they share all of 5 scenes together. It didn't feel real, more like a tryst if anything.
The magic was fascinating in concept but it felt too clean--to convenient for the alternate plot. Lady Macbeth was not a character I was necessarily rooting for, but to be fair, all of the characters were villains in their own right--which was satisfying when vengeance was obtained.
Macbeth served as a tragedy and this was startling not so. I still question what this version offers in comparison. Nonetheless, I felt like this was a solid concept that just fell a little flat to my expectations.
carigillette's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
nadih's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5