Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid:

Writers will be re-writing Shakespeare for ooh, the next five billion years.  This novel is positioned as a ‘bravura reimagining’ of Shakespeare’s play.  And yes, like any work of fiction it’s perfectly acceptable to reposition, retool, retell.  Sadly, this falls between two ‘big’ genres

The big twist (as hinted by the cover) is Lady Macbeth is actually a witch called Roscille, plotting to rule Britain.  Macbeth has been under supernatural control for quite some time, with the witches locked in his castle cellar like Norman Bates’ mum.  This leap - Dunisane as Bates Motel works, but it begins to lack credibility as the plotting thickens.  

And yes, Macbeth itself is loosely based on historical events, the author reinterprets them and characters in such a confusing fashion, it causes the reader cognitive dissonance.  Midway through, there is the big leathery wingbeat of fantasy, which is where the novel really jumps the life to come.  An act of sexual violence is followed by a sex scene and it’s the kind of sexposition that George RR Martin deals in and even other writer in that genre deems necessary. Really, just stop.  

Not quite a historical novel, not quite a fantasy novel and not quite enough for both.  It’s  published by Penguin on 13th August and I thank them for a preview copy.  #ladymacbeth