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A review by janeywaneyb
Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

A retelling of the Scottish Play but this time it's about The Lady. Reid has taken a well-known tragedy and weaved it into a historic feminist tale. Set in the 11th Century, Reid takes you to the wilds of Scotland where Lady Macbeth is a new bride to a brooding Scottish lord. With undertones of magic and lore Reid retells the story of Macbeth's downfall. Whilst it was a good read and the historic elements really bought the story to life, I feel Reid missed a trick by not weaving some of the Bard's infamous prose into this tale, only the 3 witches get that chance without fire burn and caldron bubble. Missing the Shakespearean language lessens the rating for me, I was always turning the page hoping to read "Out, damned spot; out, I say!—One, two: why then, ’tis time to do’t. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie, a soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call ourpower to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?"
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