Lady Macbeth

June 1, 2024

Lady Rocille has left everything she knows in France to become the wife of the Thane of Glamis, Macbeth. She is aware that, as his wife, she will be subject to the whims of her warrior husband and his clan, with little agency of her own. Yet Rocille might have her own power. The whispers since her childhood, the veil she is forced to wear over her unusual eyes, and her unusual beauty all play into the rumors of her being a witch. Rocille soon learns that her husband has his own occult dealings, which lead to a prophecy few would imagine. If Rocille is herself a witch, then Macbeth will use her power to solidify his own destiny. The novel's prose is solid, but Rocille seems to waffle at times between being a misunderstood young woman with little agency and one whose machinations set off the full course of events. VERDICT Reid (Juniper & Thorn) takes some interesting liberties with this renowned Shakespeare character, and centering her retelling on a woman's point of view will draw interest. The novel's fantastical elements, like the witches, are exciting, and the multilingual prose is historically compelling.--Kristi Chadwick

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Starred review from June 24, 2024
In this tour de force, bestseller Reid (A Study in Drowning) brilliantly brings to life an alternate version of Shakespeare’s villainess that leans into the play’s supernatural elements. Seventeen-year-old Roscille, the daughter of the Duke of Breizh, has been sent away from her homeland to wed Macbeth, the Thane of Glammis. Roscille is no ordinary bride, however. She is rumored to have been cursed by a witch, and, as a result, one look into her eyes is said to drive men mad. Adjusting to life with her husband is difficult; she is immediately parted from her handmaiden, whom she suspects has been killed, and is forced to care for herself. Roscille gets another shock when the thane leads her to a locked chamber in the depths of his castle, where he keeps three witches captive, who prophesy that he will gain the title of Thane of Cawder, before becoming the King of Scotland. Reid deftly subverts the expected plot beats, enhancing the play’s familiar story line by deepening not only her heroine, who is surprisingly sympathetic, but members of the supporting cast, such as Banquho’s son, Fléance. It’s a masterful reimagining.

July 1, 2024
Reid (Jupiter & Thorn, 2022) reinvents Shakespeare's classic tragedy with a captivating blend of dark academia and powerful magic. Roscille, the cursed bride with a madness-inducing gaze, finds herself in a precarious marriage to the much older Lord Macbeth. Determined to carve out her own fate, she invokes an ancient custom to demand three wishes from Macbeth on their wedding night, setting the stage for a tale of cunning and resilience. Reid's richly atmospheric setting of medieval Scotland enhances the novel's brooding intensity. The plot thickens with suspense and intrigue as Roscille and Macbeth encounter three imprisoned witches who foretell his rise to kingship. Reid masterfully balances the original narrative with fresh twists, making the familiar story feel new and exciting. Fans of dark academia and literary retellings will find much to love here. Reid's world building is exceptional, immersing readers in a chaotic yet vividly realized setting. Whether you're a Shakespeare enthusiast or simply a lover of well-crafted fantasy, this novel is sure to captivate and will leave readers yearning for more.

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