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“If she were a man, he would not ask her this. For men there is no debt of blood which goes unpaid. If the world tips in another’s favor, it must be made to tip back again. But the world is never in a woman’s favor. She cannot tip the scale. The only choice is: live the same mute, unjust life you have always lived, or tear apart the world itself.”

What is the Book about?

The Lady knows the stories: how her eyes induce madness in men. The Lady knows she will be wed to the Scottish brute, who does not leave his warrior ways behind when he comes to the marriage bed. The Lady knows his hostile, suspicious court will be a game of strategy, requiring all of her wiles and hidden witchcraft to survive.  But the Lady does not know her husband has occult secrets of his own. She does not know that prophecy girds him like armour. She does not know that her magic is greater and more dangerous, and that it will threaten the order of the world.  She does not know this yet. But she will.

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Rating
Plot ★★★☆☆
Characters ★★★★☆
Excitement ★★★☆☆
Atmosphere ★★★★★
Writing Style ★★★★★

Favourite Character
Roscille

My thoughts while reading it

Ava Reid’s Lady Macbeth is a spellbinding exploration of one of Shakespeare’s most enigmatic figures, transformed into a deeply personal and feminist narrative that lingers in the soul long after the final page. From the very first sentence, Reid immerses readers in a world of salt-soaked winds, blood-streaked hands, and whispered curses. This is not merely a retelling of Macbeth but a vivid reimagining that builds on the foundation of the original to craft something uniquely its own: a tale of resilience, vengeance, and self-discovery. If you let it, this story will take you by the hand, pull you into the misty Highlands, and refuse to let go.

From the very first page, Reid’s prose wraps the reader in the oppressive chill of the Scottish Highlands. The roaring waves that batter Glamis Castle mirror the inner turbulence of Roscille, a young woman sent to marry the powerful and brutal Lord Macbeth. The castle, perched on the edge of the sea, is both a fortress and a cage, its walls steeped in the violence and ambition of the men who rule it. Roscille, veiled to hide her “witch-like” beauty that men claim drives them mad, is thrust into a world where she is viewed not as a person but as a tool—a pawn in her father’s political games and later in Macbeth’s relentless quest for power. Reid’s use of recurring motifs—waves, blood, and reflections—creates an atmosphere as suffocating as the veil Roscille is forced to wear. The waves become a metaphor for her identity, shifting and rippling, never static. Blood stains the narrative, both literally and figuratively, forcing Roscille to confront the violence that surrounds her and the choices she must make to survive. The plot unfolds with a slow-burning intensity, gradually building toward moments of heart-stopping tension and betrayal.

Reid seamlessly weaves Scottish folklore and witchcraft into the fabric of the story, creating a world where curses and superstitions feel as real as the characters’ desperation. The magic is raw, unsettling, and deeply tied to the fears of the time. Roscille’s beauty is labelled a curse, her gaze a weapon, and her veil a barrier that obscures her identity while also shielding her from the full force of patriarchal control. Reid’s portrayal of witchcraft is a powerful commentary on how women’s autonomy and power have historically been demonized. The supernatural elements enrich the narrative, offering both a metaphor for the oppressive control of patriarchy and a genuine exploration of power. Witches, curses, and the spectral echoes of vengeance permeate the story, imbuing it with a gothic allure that feels both timeless and fresh. Reid does not romanticize magic; instead, she uses it as a lens to examine deeper questions about identity and autonomy. This is not the kind of magic that solves problems or offers easy escapes—it’s raw, unsettling, and tied to the very bones of the land.

Roscille is a marvel of character development. She begins as a girl shaped and defined by the men around her—her father, her husband, even the society that labels her as dangerous and unnatural. But as the story progresses, she begins to define herself, wielding her supposed curses and weaknesses as weapons. She is not a heroine in the conventional sense, nor is she an anti-hero. She is simply a woman who refuses to be consumed by the systems that seek to destroy her. While much of the novel is steeped in darkness, Reid also weaves in a tender love story that offers a glimmer of hope. Amid the violence and betrayal, Roscille encounters a man who sees her not as a tool or a weapon but as a person with desires, emotions, and agency. He reminds her that she is not defined by her utility to others but by her own humanity. This relationship is not the solution to Roscille’s struggles—she saves herself—but it offers a poignant counterpoint to the dehumanization she faces elsewhere. It is a quiet rebellion against a world that reduces women to objects.

At its core, Lady Macbeth is a feminist interrogation of power and identity. Reid asks difficult questions: What does it mean to hold power in a world that denies it to you? How do you define yourself when others refuse to see you as fully human? And what is the cost of survival in a society that values dominance over compassion? The novel critiques patriarchal structures that turn women into tools and men into beasts. Through Roscille’s journey, Reid challenges the trope of the “strong female character” by presenting a protagonist whose strength lies not in physical dominance or supernatural abilities but in her resilience, intelligence, and refusal to be silenced. The recurring image of the veil speaks volumes about how women are perceived and how they perceive themselves. It obscures Roscille’s face, hiding her identity, yet it also protects her, giving her the freedom to observe, to think, and ultimately to act. This duality underscores one of the book’s central themes: that power often lies in what is hidden, not what is visible.

Ava Reid’s Lady Macbeth is a triumph of feminist fantasy, a novel that is as thought-provoking as it is devastatingly beautiful. It takes the bones of Shakespeare’s tragedy and builds something entirely new—something that feels deeply personal and urgently relevant. Reid’s prose is haunting, her characters unforgettable, and her themes resonant. This is a story of survival, vengeance, and the transformative power of embracing one’s true self. If you are ready to be captivated by a tale of gothic beauty, dark magic, and a woman’s journey to reclaim her power, Lady Macbeth is not to be missed. This book is more than a retelling; it is a reimagining that reclaims one of literature’s most enigmatic figures and gives her the voice and agency she always deserved.

Reading Recommendation? ✓
Favourite? ✘