Title: Lady Macbeth
Author: Melanie Karsak
Series: Daughter of Ravens #1
Publication Date: December 3rd 2014
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Gruoch is born to rule, but long before she becomes Macbeth’s queen, ancient forces claim her soul.
Marked from birth by the old gods, Gruoch is initiated into the ancient religion of her ancestors and begins learning the mysteries of the Goddess Cerridwen. But not everything is as it seems. Soon the Battle Goddess Morrigu imposes her will, and Gruoch finds herself at the mercy of the Wyrd Sisters.
With King Malcolm plotting, the Wyrd Sisters schooling her in arcane craft, and haunted by dreams of a raven-haired man she’s never met, Gruoch feels her fate is not her own. That is, until she meets a druid named Banquo. Gruoch’s heart is swept away when Banquo awakens something in her more powerful than duty, magic, or destiny: love.
This retelling of Shakespeare’s classic work leads readers through an unforgettable saga of one woman struggling to escape her fate without blood on her hands.
Begin the Lady Macbeth Saga with Lady Macbeth: Daughter of Ravens.
One of the main things I love about her stories is that there is always a strong heroine and Lady Macbeth is no exception. Although this book is obviously inspired by one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, Melanie Karsak allows us to understand the young woman whose murderous intentions find their roots in magic, rather than being inherent.
Melanie Karsak’s main character is called many different names in this first installment of the trilogy, but we reach the end of the novel without her meeting her husband-to-be. I felt that whilst ‘Little Corbie’ matures in some areas, namely magically and sexually, in others she retains her naivety. She is not a character I particularly like, mainly because of her fickle nature and tendency to whine! But if Melanie Karsak had imagined her as loveable and cuddly we would be less likely to connect her story with the 16th-century version.
Lady Macbeth’ s life is concerned with learning the magical arts, hearing the outcome of King Duncan’s decision about her betrothal and falling in love. Little does she realise that her true ownership has already been decided by her father and when the Goddess of Death comes to claim her, we share in her despondency.
I have only given this book a “good” rating but Lady Macbeth is a character whose journey I am interested in following and I think that Melanie Karsak asks some pertinent questions about the life she was born into and what was then given to her or more importantly the things she was denied.
If you are a fan of the play this is an interesting read, but Lady Macbeth will also be enjoyed by readers of the fantasy genre.
Rating:
Giveaway Prize . . Alice In Wonderland Scarf
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