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5th out of 52 books
—
46 voters
Lady Macbeth's Daughter
The daughter Macbeth might have had, if Shakespeare had thought to create her…
Albia has grown up with no knowledge of her mother of her father, the powerful Macbeth. Instead she knows the dark lure of the Wychelm Wood and the moors, where she’s been raised by three strange sisters. It’s only when the ambitious Macbeth seeks out the sisters to foretell his fate that Albia’s...more
Albia has grown up with no knowledge of her mother of her father, the powerful Macbeth. Instead she knows the dark lure of the Wychelm Wood and the moors, where she’s been raised by three strange sisters. It’s only when the ambitious Macbeth seeks out the sisters to foretell his fate that Albia’s...more
Hardcover, 291 pages
Published
October 13th 2009
by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
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I need this book so badly. I love this author and I can't wait!
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After reading Romeo's Ex: Rosaline’s Story I actively sought retellings of Shakespeare’s plays. Lady Macbeth’s Daughter was one of the first titles I came across and to be honest, it was the one I was most excited about reading. I am a huge fan of Macbeth and was overjoyed to find that my local library had the title.
First of all, being familiar with the play helps with the reading but isn’t necessary. I thought that was a major a...more
After reading Romeo's Ex: Rosaline’s Story I actively sought retellings of Shakespeare’s plays. Lady Macbeth’s Daughter was one of the first titles I came across and to be honest, it was the one I was most excited about reading. I am a huge fan of Macbeth and was overjoyed to find that my local library had the title.
First of all, being familiar with the play helps with the reading but isn’t necessary. I thought that was a major a...more
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This was pretty good for a YA novel. It is a version of William Shakespeare's MacBeth as told from the viewpoint of Macbeth's and Lady Macbeth's daughter if she had existed. It goes back and forth from Albia, the daughter (who was thrown to the wolves for being a cripple), and Grelach aka Lady MacBeth. Readers will see how MacBeth wrongfully attains the kingship of Scotland and how Grelach assisted him. There is a rebellion among the thanes as MacBeth starts to lose his mind due to the guilt he...more
After reading Romeo's Ex:Rosaline's Story, I was really excited for Shakespeare retelling sorts of things. I was really excited for this one because I had just read Macbeth in school, and I thought it would be amazing.
Now, I understand wanting to change things, and I also understand that I personally am a purist - I dislike making major (or sometimes even minor) changes. However, I really disliked some of the author's choices. I did NOT like how Lady Macbeth started off not-evil. It didn't do it...more
Now, I understand wanting to change things, and I also understand that I personally am a purist - I dislike making major (or sometimes even minor) changes. However, I really disliked some of the author's choices. I did NOT like how Lady Macbeth started off not-evil. It didn't do it...more
Jul 26, 2011
Laura
added it
After having the role of a Weird Sister in my high school's performance of Macbeth, I am pretty much drawn to anything that has to do with the play. I picked this book up and was really excited that there was a YA novel about it. This book did not disappoint... I love how the author weaved elements and even actual lines from the play into the story. She created a new character and successfully managed to incorporate them into the story, while giving it her own twist. She made the Weird Sisters n...more
My first Klein book was Two Girls of Gettysburg. The end was breathtaking. Lady MacBeth's Daughter? An absolute masterpiece. I think Shakespeare would be happy to know that Macbeth is being enjoyed by teens once again. Filled with emotion and a exciting dramatic climax, Klein has done it again with this historical and mythical tale of Scotland's murderous king. Aliba, our heroine, is faced with a series of difficult choices; with every decision, the plot takes a another nail-biting turn. I love...more
In Shakespeare’s tragedy, the Macbeths are childless, although Lady Macbeth makes reference to having nursed a baby; the premise of this book is that Lady Macbeth gave birth to a girl, who was promptly rejected by Macbeth because he desired a son and heir to the throne. The girl, Albia, is raised by the three Wyrd sisters and eventually makes her way back into the court, not knowing who her parents are until quite late. Specific lines from the play are woven seamlessly into the novel whenever Al...more
The Good: I usually stay away from historical fiction, but Lady Macbeth's Daughter wanted to change my mind about the genre. It was wonderfully written and so enjoyable to read.
I loved how the author added more depth to the characters and all of them were well developed and not boring what-so-ever.
Albia is a fantastic main character and definitely my favorite character in the whole book. Seriously, I just wanted to give her a huge hug just because she was just so kick-ass. Seriously, what was Sh...more
I loved how the author added more depth to the characters and all of them were well developed and not boring what-so-ever.
Albia is a fantastic main character and definitely my favorite character in the whole book. Seriously, I just wanted to give her a huge hug just because she was just so kick-ass. Seriously, what was Sh...more
A recreation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth but with a twist.
The way that Klein tells the story, radiates a sort of lyrical and archaic sense, delivering a completing texture to the era of the story.
The changing perspectives from Albia, to Lady Macbeth is effective as it allows readers to understand the story form varying perspectives.
However, a major criticism I would like to point out is towards the ending, there are so many unanswered questions, such as: Does Fleance and Albia ever meet up? What ha...more
The way that Klein tells the story, radiates a sort of lyrical and archaic sense, delivering a completing texture to the era of the story.
The changing perspectives from Albia, to Lady Macbeth is effective as it allows readers to understand the story form varying perspectives.
However, a major criticism I would like to point out is towards the ending, there are so many unanswered questions, such as: Does Fleance and Albia ever meet up? What ha...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
A very well written take on the Macbeth story. Using many of the lines from the play, the book offers the idea that Lady Macbeth gave birth to a daughter who had to be raised in secret, with even her own mother being told that she was dead.
The weird sisters play a vital role in this retelling though I don't believe in posting spoilers so it's down to you to read and find out exactly where they come into the story.
I'd class this as a must read for anyone who loves the story of Lord and Lady Macb...more
The weird sisters play a vital role in this retelling though I don't believe in posting spoilers so it's down to you to read and find out exactly where they come into the story.
I'd class this as a must read for anyone who loves the story of Lord and Lady Macb...more
May 19, 2010
ivana
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone whos likes good, medium-length reads that are not too hard.
Essentially, a well-thought-out, well-written version of Macbeth, with artistic license.
Klein introduces the character of Albia, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's daughter, thought to be dead after being left out for the wolves by Macbeth, and is told by hers and Lady Macbeth's point of view. Many of the chacters are altered: Lady Macbeth does actually contain a shred of compassion in her heart, and most of the characters are developed more fully, with background information!
I loved the thinking that K...more
Klein introduces the character of Albia, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's daughter, thought to be dead after being left out for the wolves by Macbeth, and is told by hers and Lady Macbeth's point of view. Many of the chacters are altered: Lady Macbeth does actually contain a shred of compassion in her heart, and most of the characters are developed more fully, with background information!
I loved the thinking that K...more
Since I had already gotten this from the library, I thought that I might as well continue the MacBeth theme, since I liked the other book. I've read the first few chapters and this one is also quite readable and interesting, though different from Enter 3 Witches.
UPDATE
Not a bad book, but it dragged a bit in the second half and felt a little padded (since you know where the story is going, I sorta wanted her to get there already). It's well researched, which I liked, and the main character is int...more
UPDATE
Not a bad book, but it dragged a bit in the second half and felt a little padded (since you know where the story is going, I sorta wanted her to get there already). It's well researched, which I liked, and the main character is int...more
From the author of Ophelia comes a new twist on a Shakespearean classic: Lady Macbeth’s Daughter. In Lisa Klein’s take on Macbeth, Lady Macbeth bears a deformed child – a girl, nonetheless. When Macbeth casts away his child, Albia, his wife mourns and a serving woman, Rhuven, along with her sisters (coincidently the witches), takes the baby in, treating her like a daughter. Albia grows up with no knowledge of her rightful birth mother, while Lady Macbeth continues to grieve for the daughter she...more
This is the second book that I have read by Lisa Klein. the first was her re-telling of Hamlet through Ophelia's eyes and I wasn't sure if I wanted to read another Shakespeare make-over. I almost gave this book three stars because i didn't love the story when told by anyone other than Shakespeare.It seemed a little bit dark and gory, but without the brilliant and beautiful verse that makes Shakespeare's version wonderful. I didn't think the writing was that great and at times I just craved to ju...more
This book is based on Shakespeare's Macbeth, but is based on Macbeth's daughter, Albia. I really like this book because it had romance, but with a bang had adventure. This book is for people who like a bit of romance with a lot of action that just keeps the book on going. The book makes lots of twist and turns that makes the reader wonder what is coming up next.
This book is about a girl named Albia who starts out living with her so-called mother who lives with her two sisters. Albia has a gift...more
This book is about a girl named Albia who starts out living with her so-called mother who lives with her two sisters. Albia has a gift...more
Lisa Klein's Lady Macbeth's Daughter, is, obviously, about Lady Macbeth's daughter, of Klein's own creation, and her side of the story of Macbeth. It brings a new aspect to a familiar story while keeping it at a high YA reading level. It's a great book for the YA reader who loves historical fiction, Shakespeare, Macbeth, and Scotland, or anyone who just wants to hear a different side to Macbeth. I can't say it's my favorite book, but I enjoyed reading it and I bet you will too.
Read more of my r...more
Read more of my r...more
Macbeth was never my favorite play by Shakespeare, but, after reading Lady Macbeth's Daughter, I have a newfound respect for the story. I really think that Albia made the story for me - Lisa Klein wrote Albia so perfectly that I can't believe Shakespeare left her out!
Albia was an amazing addition to Macbeth's original cast. Not only was is a resilient and strong female lead, she shows the perfect blend of characteristics one would expect her to have inherited through her birth parents and her a...more
Albia was an amazing addition to Macbeth's original cast. Not only was is a resilient and strong female lead, she shows the perfect blend of characteristics one would expect her to have inherited through her birth parents and her a...more
Albia is a daughter of Scotland.
Raised on the heath by three women who keep the old ways, her greatest joy is chasing the lambs with her friend Colum.
But all is not right in Scotland.
And Albia knows, perhaps better than anyone, who is to blame.
Macbeth. His greed. His covetousness. His willingness to commit murder.
What Albia doesn’t know is that she is his daughter.
And she may one day pay the price for his sins.
An original spin on Shakespeare’s dark tale of murder, mayhem, and twisted power. I li...more
Raised on the heath by three women who keep the old ways, her greatest joy is chasing the lambs with her friend Colum.
But all is not right in Scotland.
And Albia knows, perhaps better than anyone, who is to blame.
Macbeth. His greed. His covetousness. His willingness to commit murder.
What Albia doesn’t know is that she is his daughter.
And she may one day pay the price for his sins.
An original spin on Shakespeare’s dark tale of murder, mayhem, and twisted power. I li...more
This book reminded me of why I like historical fiction so much. But its major downfall, for me at least, is the unresolved plot holes and open ending. Open endings only work if the conflicts themselves are resolved and you are just left imagining what happened with a certain two characters or where a journey might take them next. But with this one I turned the last page and was really confused. Did I miss something? It was action, action, action up until now and then it just ended. What happened...more
From my LJ write-up, which was rather concerned with other matters as well. (In other words, short but still managing to be all over the place.)
I think the premise - that Lady M had a daughter, and was driven mad by grief of losing her, (all that nasty Macbeth's doing, obsessed as he was with having a son) long before she went mad from guilt - is an interesting one. Whether you go the old-fashioned way and consider Macbeth a story of pure evil unleashed or all-out Marxist criticism and read it a...more
I think the premise - that Lady M had a daughter, and was driven mad by grief of losing her, (all that nasty Macbeth's doing, obsessed as he was with having a son) long before she went mad from guilt - is an interesting one. Whether you go the old-fashioned way and consider Macbeth a story of pure evil unleashed or all-out Marxist criticism and read it a...more
I love a good spin-off of Shakespeare. I mean, Shakespeare is great and all, but I have a hard time keeping my attention on it, especially if it's one of his tragedies. I'm better with his comedies. And I read Macbeth in my English class last year and thought it was cool. So I really wanted to read it from Albia's point of view.
Albia is the daughter of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, born soon after they are married. Macbeth, wanting sons, is very displeased with the fact that his child is a girl (not...more
Albia is the daughter of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, born soon after they are married. Macbeth, wanting sons, is very displeased with the fact that his child is a girl (not...more
Jun 28, 2009
Sarah
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
mostly girls, 13+ (several adult themes- murder, sex/rape- nothing explicit however)
Recommended to Sarah by:
Loved her other novel, Ophelia, which originally snagged me with its cover art (yup, I'm shallow :D )
As with Ophelia, one of Lisa Klein's other young adult fiction books, I absolutely adored this book and never wanted it to end. Like Enter Three Witches, a novel by Caroline B. Cooney that is also amazing on many levels, this book retells the story of Macbeth from the perspective of an invented character, Albia, daughter of the MacBeths (abandoned at birth for being female), who blends in almost seemlessly with the original story. With interesting chapters from the perspective of Grelach (an inv...more
I haven't read a whole lot of really good historical books recently so I just figured this would be another one to add to that list. Boy was I wrong! Lady Macbeth's Daughter was probably one of the best historical books I have ever read! =]
I started Lady Macbeth's Daughter already knowing the story of Macbeth. I don't think it's necessary but it was really fun to compare this new take with the original. Surprisingly they don't differ that much, except for the daughter, obviously. It was a really...more
I started Lady Macbeth's Daughter already knowing the story of Macbeth. I don't think it's necessary but it was really fun to compare this new take with the original. Surprisingly they don't differ that much, except for the daughter, obviously. It was a really...more
In this novel, set in 11th century Scotland, author Lisa Klein starts with the premise that Macbeth and his wife had a baby daughter, born with a deformed leg, and that Macbeth in his anger that she was not the healthy son he longed for, left the infant to die. Lady Macbeth, not much more than a girl herself in a time when women had no power, was helpless to stop him, and grieves for the loss of her daughter as well as the subsequent pregnancies she loses, believing herself cursed.
What neither o...more
What neither o...more
I don't remember the exact day I finished this book. About a week or two ago, I suppose.
I liked how it was a take on Macbeth, but through the eyes of a different character - in this case, Macbeth's bastard daughter and "the child I have given suck" - basically the baby Lady Macbeth had and gave up.
Lady Macbeth is made much more of a sympathetic character until she persuades Mac to kill Duncan. From there the downward spiral of madness is even worse than in the original play, if you can believe...more
I liked how it was a take on Macbeth, but through the eyes of a different character - in this case, Macbeth's bastard daughter and "the child I have given suck" - basically the baby Lady Macbeth had and gave up.
Lady Macbeth is made much more of a sympathetic character until she persuades Mac to kill Duncan. From there the downward spiral of madness is even worse than in the original play, if you can believe...more
Having studied Macbeth this year for school, and being the nerd I am, when I saw this book in the library I thought of it as a nice closer for the year to read a novel adaptation. It was really interesting to read it in a different form and from a different perspective, with added characters and things. Also, certain quotes that I had to memorise for exams jumped off the page and I'd be like, "A-ha!" when I saw them. "I remember YOU!"
My family is Scottish so it was nice to read a book set there...more
My family is Scottish so it was nice to read a book set there...more
This was a very fun read. I really enjoyed the play Macbeth so when I saw this book at Borders, I knew I had to check it out. When I started reading this book, I was hooked.
I loved Albia's character. She was very independant and it was amazing that despite being a woman, she still wants to kill her father who killed many innocent people. The adventure was so interesting and I was very interested in how the author portrayed the "witches".
I was a bit dissappointed with the ending but overall this...more
I loved Albia's character. She was very independant and it was amazing that despite being a woman, she still wants to kill her father who killed many innocent people. The adventure was so interesting and I was very interested in how the author portrayed the "witches".
I was a bit dissappointed with the ending but overall this...more
Based More on actual Scottish Lore and celtic mystisim than on Shakspeare's play script this book draws out The Bards play over a span of sixteen years. The story follows the life of Albia the rejected daughter Macbeth (and ony rejected because she was a daghter and not a son) who is then raised by three weird sisters (their strange prdictions being the only thing salveged from Shakspeare's play)who seem to have taken it as their lifes mission to sway the fate of Scotland's rulers.
Because of the...more
Because of the...more
Apr 23, 2011
~♥Alyssa♥~
is currently reading it
I've been trying to read this book since Christmas.... I really like it and I think it's well-written, but I just can't get past the way she portrays some of the characters from Shakespeare's Macbeth. I just read his play, and I don't agree at all with the way she chose to write Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. It annoys me. But I'm very slowly making progress and maybe I'll finish it. I read her book Ophelia, however, in a few days. Loved loved LOVED it.
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