A review by katherineshawwrites
Bound to the Fate of Kings by Jamie Jackson

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

4.5

Okay, I would like to read more Shakespeare retellings please! 

I’ve been a fan of Jamie Jackson’s writing for some time, and she always manages to surprise me with her take on a new genre. I’m a big Shakespeare fan - although it’s many years since I read Macbeth - and this retelling manages to feel both familiar and new at the same time. There are obvious links to the original story, but bringing the three witches to the forefront was a fascinating new angle, and it worked well. 

I really enjoyed the uneasy romance building between the two main characters, and the murky morals throughout were interesting to watch play out. I loved seeing our reincarnation of Macduff brought to life a lot more in this telling, whereas - despite being the ‘hero’ in the end - he feels like a side character in the original text.

This was a great read for spooky season, and I would definitely recommend it to any Shakespeare fan interested in fresh versions of the bard’s work
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