A review by knlipke
Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.75

I want to start off by saying I’m a huge fan of the play Macbeth ever since I read it in high school. Women are typically depicted as the villain, as the witch, as the monster, in books; especially ones written in the 1600s. But this woman,  this Lady Macbeth from the Shakespearean play, was a badass to me. She took charge and controlled the story from her lord husband by using persuasion. She had sway and power over these strong male characters because she wanted to be Queen of Scotland (slay).

I really tried to separate the book from the play. I really did. But I didn’t like how lady Macbeth’s persuasions were just off-hand suggestions. Afterthoughts. Ava Reid’s Lady Macbeth was very passive. She wasn’t as ambitious and ruthless as Shakespeare’s lady Macbeth was. I understood Reid’s probable reasoning for her version of LM; it wasn’t entirely lost on me. But I would’ve like a little more assertiveness. Reid definitely took a different route and didn’t keep some things canon.

What kept me through the whole book was Ava Reid’s writing style. I love how she’s beautifully poetic. I loved A Study in Drowning, so this isn’t a surprise! 

When I tie the play into my comparison, I wasn’t a huge fan. But when I separate the play and the book, the book was bewitching (ha). I loved every word! 

Overall, all that to say: 3.75/5
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