A dark, compelling and atmospheric Shakespeare retelling. A really interesting exploration of womanhood and the patriarchy and a fascinating interpretation of a seminal literary figure.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

A great retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth in a new perspective! I really enjoyed this book, with its dark atmosphere, beautiful prose and look at the role of a wife and woman in 11-century Scotland. Ava Reid masterfully included fantasy aspects into the classic story, however some of the characters, Lord Macbeth, and Banquho for example felt a little flat. I still highly recommend this book to everyone who likes gothic historical fantasy or want a feminist retelling of this classic story!

Summary: The Lady anticipates marriage to a Scottish warrior, aware of his court's hostility, but unaware of his occult secrets and prophecy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book, all thoughts are my own.

This much anticipated new novel from Ava Reid did not disappoint. Retelling the story of the Scottish Play from Lady Macbeth’s viewpoint we are treated to the other side of the narrative and all its murky twists and turns.

Not shying away from the realities of life for medieval women and all that was endured at the hands of men, society and religion, we see the world through the eyes of a female clutching onto the only power she has; the fear that men have of witchcraft.

The main points of the play are intact, and the leading characters, but we also have additional introductions of individuals which place a new spin on the narrative.

The atmosphere is perfectly oppressive in this Scottish landscape, the dark and damp castle, the swirling sea and the restrictive garments all add to the wondrous gothic charm.

Plus witches are not the only fantasy element..

A solid 4.5 stars for character, plot and setting, for thrills, twists and bloody gore and great gothic elements.

This is a superb novel from a talented writer. Many thanks netgalley for the opportunity to read and review Lady Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth is the fourth novel by Ava Reid. It follows the wife of Macbeth who has many stories surrounding her. It is said her eyes induce madness in men. Lady Macbeth knows she will be married to the Scottish brute and can do nothing to stop it. The lady will have to use her wiles to survive and this changes when she discovers Macbeth has secrets of his own.

I was really excited to try this novel as I love historical/fantasy novels especially something that’s linked to Shakespeare. I am giving it 3 stars but this was my last chance with Ava Reid and I don’t think I’ll read more from this author. The storytelling felt flat and it feels like one of those typical feminist retellings where the female character (Lady Macbeth) just has no real agency.

I really enjoyed this retelling, it was imaginative, thoughtful and definitely worth a read! My first reading of Ava Reid and would definitely pick up another of her works.

Pros:
- We love a retelling of one of Shakespeare’s most iconic female character.
- The mention of Gruoch (LOVE).
- Amazing gothic atmosphere.

Cons:
- Roscille was so unlikeable and I found it really hard to connect with her.
-Lisander’s whole plot line just didn’t make sense to me.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Ava Reid is a new to me author.I read her study in drowning last year and fell in love with her writing and story telling! once again she delivers. I am in so much love with her poetic prose and atmosphere and unique concepts.I think everyone should read her work.Once again she delivers. I had a bit of trouble at the start getting into it but after that I couldn't put it down! Love the journey she takes her characters on Beautiful work!

A spectacular twist on one of Shakespeare’s best known stories, LADY MACBETH is the book I didn’t know I needed and have been utterly enchanted by. Admittedly, it starts a little slower than I’d like, and the repetition of the ermine, the ermine, the bloody ermine wore on my nerves. But overall, Ava Reid has woven a captivating, fantastical mythology around Lady Macbeth and transformed her into a powerful passionate character in her own right.

Ava Reid is an incredible and talented author, her writing style always is so beautifully done and i adore all her books so i was very thankful to get the chance to read Lady Macbeth and overall the book was enchanting, it instantly drew me in and i adored this book like i knew i would.

Lady Macbeth is a enchanting retelling of Shakespeare's Macbeth. Roscille is a foreign bride that has travelled to a gothic scottish castle to marry Lord Macbeth but this retelling has many elements inside of rage, witches, mythical creatures, revenge and violence.

The characters felt real to me and i thoroughly enjoyed that with Ava Reid's work she doesn't shy away from inducing horror and shock to the readers. Roscille was a strangely unique character that we watch grow and gain her confidence despite all the horror and violence she has to go through. I find it hard to put into words how much i enjoyed this book, everytime i am at a loss for words when i read the work of Ava Reid.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and Random House UK, Cornerstone | Del Rey for the copy of this arc in exchange of my full honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. I did not enjoy this one as much as the author's previous works. What I did like was the lovely prose and the atmosphere it created, as well as the pacing which made this a nice easy read. I also enjoyed how the story was reimagined with fantasy elements. However, I was not a fan overall of this interpretation of Lady Macbeth. I was expecting a much more mature and nuanced character, who was not at the mercy of men for the majority of the book. I think I would have enjoyed this more as an original work rather than a retelling, as the Lady Macbeth we know is ruthless and cunning, not a naïve child. I was also not a fan of how the vast majority of the other characters were one sided. The men were brutes, the woman were either weak or witches etc. In conclusion,, I am still a fan of Ava Reid, but I do not think this is her strongest work.

I have read the Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid, and that novel was brilliant and so I had high expectations for this book. It did not disappoint me. Similarly excellent just like the last book. Lady Macbeth has the power to ensorcel men with her eyes, and for that reason usually wears a veil. I don't want to say any more because it might spoil the book, but this is a novel worth reading, in my opinion, and I highly recommend it.

Ava Reid has done it again with her new feminist reimagining of Macbeth! She gives voice to a legendary Shakespearean character with a feminist twist that she’s becoming known for alongside her atmospheric gothic writing style.

This was so much more than I expected! It was fast paced but intelligently written, with Reid signature style of such lyrical prose. I really loved her take on the character of Lady Macbeth (despite having never read the original— I’ve always been a Hamlet girl lol). Reid really examines the binary roles of women and men, of womanhood and agency, of marriage and violence. I can always trust her to examine complex topics regarding women and she didn’t let me down here either. I love how she always takes her female characters on a journey of reclamation and it just makes the book so much more satisfying after her examination of such gruelling topics. As a woman, being reminded of the world’s treatment of women can be a bit grim but Reid’s resolutions always leave me smiling, seeing the fate of the heroine lighter than ever.

Cant wait to see what Reid comes up with next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Absolutely spell binding!

This was my first book by Ava Reid and it definitely will not be my last. Her writing style was so stunning and enchanting it was like I physically couldn't stop reading!