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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 or 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 life becomes tangled with the man who leaves nothing but bloodshed in his wake. She even falls in love with Fleance, Macbeth's rival for the throne. Yet when Albia learns that she has the second sight, she must decide whether to ignore the terrible future she foresees or to change it. Will she be able to save the man she loves from her murderous father? And can she forgive her parents their wrongs, or must she destroy them to save Scotland from tyranny?
Albia has grown up with no knowledge of her mother or 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 life becomes tangled with the man who leaves nothing but bloodshed in his wake. She even falls in love with Fleance, Macbeth's rival for the throne. Yet when Albia learns that she has the second sight, she must decide whether to ignore the terrible future she foresees or to change it. Will she be able to save the man she loves from her murderous father? And can she forgive her parents their wrongs, or must she destroy them to save Scotland from tyranny?
In her highly anticipated follow-up to Ophelia, Lisa Klein delivers a powerful reimagining of Shakespeare's Macbeth, featuring a young woman so seamlessly drawn it seems impossible she was not part of the Bard's original play.
291 pages, Hardcover
First published October 13, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
July 5, 2009
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 of them know, however, is that their baby daughter did not die. She was saved by Lady Macbeth’s serving woman, Rhuven, who took her to live with her sisters in the Wychelm Wood. The sisters name the child Albia, and the little girl grows up believing one of the sisters to be her mother. The years pass by peacefully, until the year Albia turns fifteen and great turmoil comes to Scotland. King Duncan is murdered, and Albia is sent to live with a foster family - Banquo, his wife Breda, and their son Fleance. And there is turmoil inside Albia as well - she is confused by her feelings for the attractive but maddening Fleance, and she longs to know the identity of her father. When she learns the truth about her heritage - and that her birth parents murdered the king in order to seize the throne - she struggles with her feelings of revulsion at what her parents have done and determines that she must destroy them and bring peace and justice to Scotland.
Lady Macbeth’s Daughter is a rather interesting and complex novel. It is mainly told from the point of view of Albia, although we also see some events from the point of view of Lady Macbeth. Her perspective, and the difficult life she lived, made her actions, wrong though they were, understandable. Overall the story and the ending especially were rather thought-provoking, making me think a lot about the motivations of various characters, and wondering what happened afterwards. I would recommend this book to readers, young adult and older, who enjoy either historical fiction or unique retellings of Shakespeare’s plays.
What neither of them know, however, is that their baby daughter did not die. She was saved by Lady Macbeth’s serving woman, Rhuven, who took her to live with her sisters in the Wychelm Wood. The sisters name the child Albia, and the little girl grows up believing one of the sisters to be her mother. The years pass by peacefully, until the year Albia turns fifteen and great turmoil comes to Scotland. King Duncan is murdered, and Albia is sent to live with a foster family - Banquo, his wife Breda, and their son Fleance. And there is turmoil inside Albia as well - she is confused by her feelings for the attractive but maddening Fleance, and she longs to know the identity of her father. When she learns the truth about her heritage - and that her birth parents murdered the king in order to seize the throne - she struggles with her feelings of revulsion at what her parents have done and determines that she must destroy them and bring peace and justice to Scotland.
Lady Macbeth’s Daughter is a rather interesting and complex novel. It is mainly told from the point of view of Albia, although we also see some events from the point of view of Lady Macbeth. Her perspective, and the difficult life she lived, made her actions, wrong though they were, understandable. Overall the story and the ending especially were rather thought-provoking, making me think a lot about the motivations of various characters, and wondering what happened afterwards. I would recommend this book to readers, young adult and older, who enjoy either historical fiction or unique retellings of Shakespeare’s plays.
March 6, 2010
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 Albia is in the presence of her parents. With chapters alternating between the voice of Lady Macbeth and Albia, the plot moves quickly to its tragic conclusion.
The author clearly knows her Shakespeare, and has done her research on medieval Scotland well. This is a fantastic book that would go well with a class reading of the play, or by itself for the younger Shakespeare fan set. Highly recommended for grades 8-12, although there is a fair amount of gore, alcohol and herbal drug use, and mental illness.
The author clearly knows her Shakespeare, and has done her research on medieval Scotland well. This is a fantastic book that would go well with a class reading of the play, or by itself for the younger Shakespeare fan set. Highly recommended for grades 8-12, although there is a fair amount of gore, alcohol and herbal drug use, and mental illness.
November 29, 2009
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 believable take on an old tale and I guess I wasn't expecting that. Lisa Klein did nothing to take away from Shakespeare's story, she just added onto the brilliance.
I think the one difference between the two stories was the insight into why some of the characters did what they did. Lady Macbeth and the Wyrd Sisters have such a big part in this story where they never really did in Macbeth. They had important parts in the original but you never got to know them. Also, I felt like I really knew Banquo and Fleance and I loved them. They were both so great to Albia. All the characters in the book were just spectacular.
Overall, Lady Macbeth's Daughter is a book I think all historical fans need to pick up. Even if you don't know much about the original story, this one pretty much explains itself and is truly worth buying!
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 believable take on an old tale and I guess I wasn't expecting that. Lisa Klein did nothing to take away from Shakespeare's story, she just added onto the brilliance.
I think the one difference between the two stories was the insight into why some of the characters did what they did. Lady Macbeth and the Wyrd Sisters have such a big part in this story where they never really did in Macbeth. They had important parts in the original but you never got to know them. Also, I felt like I really knew Banquo and Fleance and I loved them. They were both so great to Albia. All the characters in the book were just spectacular.
Overall, Lady Macbeth's Daughter is a book I think all historical fans need to pick up. Even if you don't know much about the original story, this one pretty much explains itself and is truly worth buying!
October 26, 2009
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 Shakespeare thinking by NOT putting Albia in the original?!
I wished I could've seen more romance between Albia and Fleance, but from what I've read, the romance was sweet without wanting the reader to gag.
My favorite part about Lady Macbeth's Daughter was that the author gave us reasons why the characters acted the way they did and that made the characters more believable and relateable.
The Bad: The ending was a bit disappointing. The first words that came to my head were, "Is that seriously the end?!" I have nothing against endings that make the reader think a little, but for this book, I wanted closure. And I got zilch and that made the story feel incomplete.
Overall: Lady Macbeth's Daughter is a fantastic book that is sure to enthrall the attention of historical fiction lovers everywhere.
Grade: B+
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 Shakespeare thinking by NOT putting Albia in the original?!
I wished I could've seen more romance between Albia and Fleance, but from what I've read, the romance was sweet without wanting the reader to gag.
My favorite part about Lady Macbeth's Daughter was that the author gave us reasons why the characters acted the way they did and that made the characters more believable and relateable.
The Bad: The ending was a bit disappointing. The first words that came to my head were, "Is that seriously the end?!" I have nothing against endings that make the reader think a little, but for this book, I wanted closure. And I got zilch and that made the story feel incomplete.
Overall: Lady Macbeth's Daughter is a fantastic book that is sure to enthrall the attention of historical fiction lovers everywhere.
Grade: B+
February 21, 2010
A very intriguing side-story/intwined tale to probably my favorite of all of Shakespeare's tragedies. Here Macbeth and his lady come to life in a different way, joined in their daughter, whose wrath makes their pale in comparison.
I think I especially liked this book mostly for the fact that it does not end in the traditional 'happily-ever-after' manner that it's predecessor, Ophelia, seemed to. That she loves Fleance is true, but I like that she did not feel that she was ready to settle down into the whole 'lady of the keep' role and thus took off to better comprehend who she is.
So very often Shakespeare's tragedies unfold from a single moment or event, and here Klein builds on that precept. Macbeth's rejection of his daughter because he had been promised sons sets the events of the book in motion, and it helps very much to bring about his ruin.
Lady Macbeth's madness is all the more interesting in this rendition because we see her descent much more clearly than we do in the original play.
Very cool twist on a favorite play.
I think I especially liked this book mostly for the fact that it does not end in the traditional 'happily-ever-after' manner that it's predecessor, Ophelia, seemed to. That she loves Fleance is true, but I like that she did not feel that she was ready to settle down into the whole 'lady of the keep' role and thus took off to better comprehend who she is.
So very often Shakespeare's tragedies unfold from a single moment or event, and here Klein builds on that precept. Macbeth's rejection of his daughter because he had been promised sons sets the events of the book in motion, and it helps very much to bring about his ruin.
Lady Macbeth's madness is all the more interesting in this rendition because we see her descent much more clearly than we do in the original play.
Very cool twist on a favorite play.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2009
I need this book so badly. I love this author and I can't wait!
June 20, 2020
Beautifully described, remarkable vocabulary (recommend having a dictionary near you while reading this) and I quite admire Klein for the way she builds her characters :D
May 7, 2025
"Look like the innocent flower,
But be the serpent under it.- Lady Macbeth, Scene V
3.5 out of 5 stars
Setting:Scotland; 1032-1048
Coverly Love?:No; it's just a girl, and while she is no doubt lovely, it comes off as a quite plain cover.
Plot:In this imaginative retelling of Shakespeare's play Macbeth, Macbeth and his wife have a secret daughter. But since she is not the son he so desires, he disowns her and leaves her to die on the mountainside. And die she might have, if not for the compassion of Lady Macbeth's lady in waiting, Rhuven. She wisks the baby away and, along with her sisters Helwain and Geillis, raises the baby girl as if she were their own. Years later, this baby girl is now known as Albia, and knows nothing about her true heritage. Albia has a special gift, however; she can see into the future. So when one of these visions foretells the death of the King, she is whisked away once again to live with a foster family. There, she learns the horrible truth; she is indeed the daughter of the murderous King Macbeth and his wife. Will she ever be able to forgive her parents for what they have done? And will she be the one to save the Scotland?
Applause is in order for Lisa Klein for taking such iconic literary characters and making them new and fresh. I myself have never read Shakespeare's Macbeth, but I do know that he made out Macbeth and his wife to be the ultimate nightmare. She does the unthinkable; she makes them human and emotional (at least in Lady Macbeth's case. Macbeth.. more on him later). She provides a perfectly logical explanation as to the motives of the characters in the original play, al from studying one line.
Characters:Albia is a spitfire, that's for sure. Strong, independent, feisty, and hot-tempered, this heroine of the story is a likable individual. You can't help but feel sorry for her, since she has suffered a lot of hardship in her life, with her parents abandoning her. But she never loses her tenacious spirit, and in the end learns a powerful lesson of forgiveness. Lady Macbeth was an utterly heartbreaking character, and you can see why she ended up the way she did; mad and crazed with guilt over the daughter she loved but had to give up, something she regrets deeply. The three sisters who rescued her were also good characters, as their compassion showed for Albia. Fleance, Albia's foster brother, former enemy and eventual lover, was a hard character to like at first, but he grows on you, just like he grew on Albia. And finally, Macbeth. All I can say is that he is a absolute monster.
Pros:I loved the historical setting of ancient Scotland, and how vividly Mrs. Klein was able to portray some of Shakespeare's most iconic characters.
Cons:None in particular.
Love Triangle?:Kind of; Fleance vs. Albia vs. Colum. Nothing romantic happens between Albia and Colum, but he does admit to having a crush on her and wanting to be more than her friend. Albia's heart clearly belongs to Fleance, however.
Insta-Love?:Nope!
A Little Romance?:Fleance and starts out hating the guts out of Albia when he first meets her, but gradually, she falls in love with him, and he her.
Conclusion:A wonderful retelling that makes me want to go and read the original play.
Read This!:Macbeth by William Shakespeare.
February 9, 2011
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 just pull out the real Macbeth. I just feel like Shakespeare's writing makes reading such a horrible story worth it. But I gave it four stars for a couple of reasons:
1. The idea of the book is very intriguing, plausible, and possible. It is very possible that the Macbeth's would have a daughter. There are specific lines in the play that suggest that they had a child at one point. It makes sense that it was not a boy because had Macbeth had an heir it wouldn't be such a big deal that he secure his positions. There are a couple other changes to the story because of this daughter and I think that they all fit right in with the original Macbeth.
2. The author not only used Shakespeare's play as a source, but she used the real history of Macbeth and his wife. Many of the changes in the book were taken straight from history. It makes re-writing a great classic like MacBeth seem ok. She is just retelling a a part of history. People do that all the time.
3. It was fairly clean, compared to Klein's other book OPHELIA. And the main character was more of an example for teen age girls, who is probably the main audience of this book. She has many faults, but she deals with them in a good way. Not only could this book teach teens about history and literature, but I think it is an example of a young lady who has loads of problems, but maintains integrity, virtue, and courage throughout.
4. I loved the ending. I wont say what happens. Klein goes on passed where Shakespeare's play ended and continues on with the story a little bit. I thought the ending was perfect.It surprised me and left me feeling like I could give it four stars instead of three. (Although, I do admit that I do wish there was more closure. It did leave a few things hanging. It would have been nice to know what happened to Albia a couple years down the road. Just a brief epilogue would have been nice.)
1. The idea of the book is very intriguing, plausible, and possible. It is very possible that the Macbeth's would have a daughter. There are specific lines in the play that suggest that they had a child at one point. It makes sense that it was not a boy because had Macbeth had an heir it wouldn't be such a big deal that he secure his positions. There are a couple other changes to the story because of this daughter and I think that they all fit right in with the original Macbeth.
2. The author not only used Shakespeare's play as a source, but she used the real history of Macbeth and his wife. Many of the changes in the book were taken straight from history. It makes re-writing a great classic like MacBeth seem ok. She is just retelling a a part of history. People do that all the time.
3. It was fairly clean, compared to Klein's other book OPHELIA. And the main character was more of an example for teen age girls, who is probably the main audience of this book. She has many faults, but she deals with them in a good way. Not only could this book teach teens about history and literature, but I think it is an example of a young lady who has loads of problems, but maintains integrity, virtue, and courage throughout.
4. I loved the ending. I wont say what happens. Klein goes on passed where Shakespeare's play ended and continues on with the story a little bit. I thought the ending was perfect.It surprised me and left me feeling like I could give it four stars instead of three. (Although, I do admit that I do wish there was more closure. It did leave a few things hanging. It would have been nice to know what happened to Albia a couple years down the road. Just a brief epilogue would have been nice.)
October 12, 2009
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 adoptive family. I am astounded by how believable Albia's character is! It was interesting to see how Albia came to terms with learning that her birth father is the bloodthirsty and tyrannical Macbeth - a man that she has never personally met, nor has an desire to.
Lady Macbeth was must easier to understand and feel sympathy for in this version of the story. I like the idea that Lady Macbeth's insane behavior was motivated in part by her grief over the death of her infant daughter (Albia), rather than (only) greed and the need for power.
The romance between Albia and Fleance wasn't really a main part of the plot, but it was engaging and well-written. Most Shakespearean romances are doomed, but Klein's story had a twist and was surprisingly simple and without drama. It had some drama and complexity of course, but the love story didn't build you up and then rip out your heart - which is a good thing!
Ratings (Out of 10):
Plot: 10
Characters: 10
Writing: 10
Romance: 10
Originality: 10
Total: 50/50 (A!!)
The idea of Macbeth and his lady having a secret daughter was a wonderfully imagined plot twist to Macbeth. I think Shakespeare would approve! I'm definitely going to read Lisa Klein's first book, Ophelia, and can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
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 adoptive family. I am astounded by how believable Albia's character is! It was interesting to see how Albia came to terms with learning that her birth father is the bloodthirsty and tyrannical Macbeth - a man that she has never personally met, nor has an desire to.
Lady Macbeth was must easier to understand and feel sympathy for in this version of the story. I like the idea that Lady Macbeth's insane behavior was motivated in part by her grief over the death of her infant daughter (Albia), rather than (only) greed and the need for power.
The romance between Albia and Fleance wasn't really a main part of the plot, but it was engaging and well-written. Most Shakespearean romances are doomed, but Klein's story had a twist and was surprisingly simple and without drama. It had some drama and complexity of course, but the love story didn't build you up and then rip out your heart - which is a good thing!
Ratings (Out of 10):
Plot: 10
Characters: 10
Writing: 10
Romance: 10
Originality: 10
Total: 50/50 (A!!)
The idea of Macbeth and his lady having a secret daughter was a wonderfully imagined plot twist to Macbeth. I think Shakespeare would approve! I'm definitely going to read Lisa Klein's first book, Ophelia, and can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
August 29, 2009
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 feels from his bloody actions.
While the rebellion is rising against the king, Albia is being raised by some "witches" in the forest and she also has the "sight" or ability to see the future. Her "sight" plays a major role in the actions of MacBeth. When Albia is sent to live with a wealthy thane she falls in love with the nobelmans's son as well as learns her true parentage. She must deal with the knowledge that she is spawned from "monsters" and some deep emotional questions arise regarding forgiveness and revenge.
She learns to yield a sword and hold a shield and these weapons of war as well as her sight and a horse and a few of her friends begin a journey to save Scotland from the mad king. The ending holds confrontations with both of her biological parents. Does Albia have the ability to forgive?
Four stars instead of five because I have read Susan Fraser King's "Lady MacBeth" and preferred her version to this one. This one has both MacBeth and his wife appearing as greedy, power hungry tyrants when in actuality, MacBeth ruled a peaceful Scotland for 6 years. For the young adult crowd, however, this is a great re telling of the Shakepeare tale.
While the rebellion is rising against the king, Albia is being raised by some "witches" in the forest and she also has the "sight" or ability to see the future. Her "sight" plays a major role in the actions of MacBeth. When Albia is sent to live with a wealthy thane she falls in love with the nobelmans's son as well as learns her true parentage. She must deal with the knowledge that she is spawned from "monsters" and some deep emotional questions arise regarding forgiveness and revenge.
She learns to yield a sword and hold a shield and these weapons of war as well as her sight and a horse and a few of her friends begin a journey to save Scotland from the mad king. The ending holds confrontations with both of her biological parents. Does Albia have the ability to forgive?
Four stars instead of five because I have read Susan Fraser King's "Lady MacBeth" and preferred her version to this one. This one has both MacBeth and his wife appearing as greedy, power hungry tyrants when in actuality, MacBeth ruled a peaceful Scotland for 6 years. For the young adult crowd, however, this is a great re telling of the Shakepeare tale.
May 1, 2010
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 historical fiction because you always get a little something out of it, if not a lot. You get to wander through a past time period and enjoy an adventure. I usually like historical fiction--even if it is a bit slow at times--but that's just me. For those who like to be kept on the edge of your seat, well good news! Albia doesn't wait for adventure to happen, she finds it! Even hesitant readers might want to take a look at this book!
Overall I think Lady Macbeth's Daughter is a thrilling novel dripping with romance and adventure and a surprising twist. I have not yet read Shakespeare's Macbeth, but this book is sure to help me through it or better yet, help bring it to life.
|Age Group: YA, ages 14+|
|Content: Sensuality; not recommend for anyone under 13 (PG-13)|
Courtesy of booksandliteratureforteens.blogspot.com
Overall I think Lady Macbeth's Daughter is a thrilling novel dripping with romance and adventure and a surprising twist. I have not yet read Shakespeare's Macbeth, but this book is sure to help me through it or better yet, help bring it to life.
|Age Group: YA, ages 14+|
|Content: Sensuality; not recommend for anyone under 13 (PG-13)|
Courtesy of booksandliteratureforteens.blogspot.com
March 25, 2016
This is the second of Klein's novels that re-imagine Shakespearean characters and marks her as a clear forerunner in this particular YA genre. Many authors have attempted to expand upon the bard's work to varying success; this is a powerful entry into the field.
Klein draws upon what we know of from the Scottish Play and fleshes out the characters who perhaps need it most. Despite his ability to write powerful and captivating women, some of Will's best plays are sadly devoid of such characters. Klein remedies that and her fantasy addition to the Macbeth family is equal parts her father's fury and her mother's ambition. However, the titular daughter is also marked by great capacity for forgiveness and love that she slowly becomes aware of.
The romance, such as it was, was well done and Klein subverted the clichéd choice between the boy at home and the boy afar neatly and casually. It really can be done so simply! Her supporting cast is strong and the protagonist wavers from unlikeable and frustrating to sympathetic - much like an actual young woman.
There can be no surprises with a plot this famous - but it is the execution which counts and in this case Klein uses the novel genre well. It will never be possible (I think) to write a similar interpretation with the same lyrical quality of the play in simple prose... but this is a meritous and enjoyable read on its own.
Klein draws upon what we know of from the Scottish Play and fleshes out the characters who perhaps need it most. Despite his ability to write powerful and captivating women, some of Will's best plays are sadly devoid of such characters. Klein remedies that and her fantasy addition to the Macbeth family is equal parts her father's fury and her mother's ambition. However, the titular daughter is also marked by great capacity for forgiveness and love that she slowly becomes aware of.
The romance, such as it was, was well done and Klein subverted the clichéd choice between the boy at home and the boy afar neatly and casually. It really can be done so simply! Her supporting cast is strong and the protagonist wavers from unlikeable and frustrating to sympathetic - much like an actual young woman.
There can be no surprises with a plot this famous - but it is the execution which counts and in this case Klein uses the novel genre well. It will never be possible (I think) to write a similar interpretation with the same lyrical quality of the play in simple prose... but this is a meritous and enjoyable read on its own.
July 19, 2016
This is a delightful book that takes an unusual look at Shakespeare's famous tragedy.
While the viewpoint does switch, the story is mostly told from the viewpoint of Albia, the daughter of MacBeth and his wife, who was abandoned at birth and raised by three weird sisters.
It's marketed as a young adult romance, but don't let that stop you for several reasons.
It's a damn good story. Well told and absorbing.
The romance isn't overplayed. It's young love (Albia and Fleance), but not in that nauseating way that adults seem to usually view teenagers in the first flush of love. In all honesty it is more of a female perspective quest narrative than a romance. Love drives the quest, but then that is usual of most quest narratives anyway.
The story, like any good quest, has a sprinkling of myth and magic to season it. In this case it's Celtic.
Highly recommended.
While the viewpoint does switch, the story is mostly told from the viewpoint of Albia, the daughter of MacBeth and his wife, who was abandoned at birth and raised by three weird sisters.
It's marketed as a young adult romance, but don't let that stop you for several reasons.
It's a damn good story. Well told and absorbing.
The romance isn't overplayed. It's young love (Albia and Fleance), but not in that nauseating way that adults seem to usually view teenagers in the first flush of love. In all honesty it is more of a female perspective quest narrative than a romance. Love drives the quest, but then that is usual of most quest narratives anyway.
The story, like any good quest, has a sprinkling of myth and magic to season it. In this case it's Celtic.
Highly recommended.
November 13, 2011
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 liked the invention of Albia’s character and the reinterpretation of the witches.
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 liked the invention of Albia’s character and the reinterpretation of the witches.
February 7, 2015
Very enjoyable interpretation of Lady Macbeth's allusion to having already given birth to children - in this case, a daughter with Macbeth, who, because of her lame foot, is to be discarded on a hillside (Oedipus!), but instead is rescued for Lady Macbeth's servant (also one of the "witches"). So clever on a number of levels. Would be best read after having read Shakespeare's play. Told through shifting, point-of-view chapters including Lady Macbeth (she has a name - Grelach), Albia (the daughter), though most of the story is told from Albia's viewpoint.
May 13, 2010
I loved Ophelia by Lisa Klein but I like Macbeth much more than Hamlet, so this book really struck a chord for me. I felt that she painted the primitive warring culture of Scotland in this period extremely well, and her author notes at the end of the book bears out the extent of her research. I'm not sure that I 100% like the protagonist all the time, but she's a well drawn character and a feisty warrior.
December 10, 2009
MacBeth is one of those historical figures that had the bad luck of being on the "loosing" side of history. I hope that other people who read this story take the time to read Klein's historical notes about the real MacBeth who actually reigned during a relatively peaceful time and contrary to current belief did not steal the crown but was chosen to be King by his peers.
March 17, 2011
Not nearly as good as Klein's 'Ophelia,' but still a decent read.
(***spoiler alert - if you've never read or seen Macbeth, this paragraph gives a lot away***) What really bother me are the details that don't match up from the play - mostly that Macbeth never receives report that his wife has died.
I'll continue to read books by this author in hopes another one like 'Ophelia' surfaces.
(***spoiler alert - if you've never read or seen Macbeth, this paragraph gives a lot away***) What really bother me are the details that don't match up from the play - mostly that Macbeth never receives report that his wife has died.
I'll continue to read books by this author in hopes another one like 'Ophelia' surfaces.
August 10, 2017
This was definitely a different take on Lady MacBeth and three sisters than other sequels/adaptations/back-story novels I have read. Worth a read if Shakespearean adaptations are of interest.
August 21, 2018
So this book was really cool. I don’t know why I think it’s so cool but it was. It was really cool. I’m a huge Shakespeare fan and Macbeth is my favorite of his work. I had very high hopes for this novel. I had it on my TBR for around two years and I’ve finally gotten around to reading it.
I was impressed. Macbeth as a whole is a large play to write a retelling, and yet, Klein did a wonderful job keeping the original feel of the play while putting her own twist on the story. The story kept me entertained throughout the novel, and kept me rooting for the main protagonist.
My only complaint is Lady Macbeth’s perspectives, which you do occasionally get. I understand the importance of seeing her point of view, but I felt it could have been incorporated better in the flow of the novel. She didn’t fit as nicely as a Lady Macbeth Character should in Macbeth.
I love this author’s character work and I plan to pick up her other works soon.
Favorite Character: Colum, what a chill sheep herder
I was impressed. Macbeth as a whole is a large play to write a retelling, and yet, Klein did a wonderful job keeping the original feel of the play while putting her own twist on the story. The story kept me entertained throughout the novel, and kept me rooting for the main protagonist.
My only complaint is Lady Macbeth’s perspectives, which you do occasionally get. I understand the importance of seeing her point of view, but I felt it could have been incorporated better in the flow of the novel. She didn’t fit as nicely as a Lady Macbeth Character should in Macbeth.
I love this author’s character work and I plan to pick up her other works soon.
Favorite Character: Colum, what a chill sheep herder
July 16, 2019
This is the story of the abandoned daughter of Macbeth (yes, Shakespeare's Macbeth) and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth wanted a son, not a daughter with a bad leg, and so he ordered the baby be murdered in the woods. Instead, Lady Macbeth's servant saves the girl, named Albia, and takes her to be raised by her sisters--who happen to be the Wyrd sisters that Macbeth talks to. Albis doesn't learn until much later in her life that she is the daughter of the power-hungry murderers. While it strays a bit from the play, most of the elements are there. It switches back and forth between the viewpoint Albia and Grelach (Lady Macbeth). It was a really gripping read--especially if you like/are familiar with the story of Macbeth. I think what I liked the most is how strong Albia is and the decisions she makes in tough circumstances. There are a lot of girl power vibes, especially in the end, and that makes me pretty happy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2022
When I usually open up a fantasy book, I get lost. This book was a great exception. For one, the descriptive words used in the process of world-building were phenomenal. Personally, what usually loses me the most is the introduction of new worlds, characters, and even at times a new language. Even though I have never read Shakespeare's play "Macbeth", the author did a great job at introducing his story. Another reason I really liked this book was because of the characters and their development. The characters' personality evolved based on the years that passed and the situations they found themselves in. There were many side characters and the best part of this book was that they each had a part to play. None of them were uselessly thrown into the book, like many other fantasy books. If would recommend this book to someone, I would recommend it to lover's of Shakespearean literature.
August 4, 2025
This is a YA novel based off the Macbeth play. it's very YA as most of the characters are teens with the older characters at most in their mid thirties. This actually doesn't work as well as Kleins previous book Ophelia as Macbeth tends to be a play where the characters are more mature. The settings work and Klein has clearly done a lot of location scout work in Scotland which is a positive. The bit that didn't really work was Macbeth's wife. In this book, she becomes an abused woman which doesn't chime with her very clear involvement in the deaths and machinations of Macbeth. It also robs her of any real self propulsion.
June 30, 2020
3.5 stars
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You definitely need to have Macbeth fairly clear in your mind going into this, as it's told from a duel perspective (Lady Macbeth and Albia), and Macbeth himself is more of a secondary character.
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I really liked the fantasy elements in this story, but struggled a bit to root for any of the characters. I know I was meant to sympathize with Lady Macbeth, but I just couldn't.
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Definitely recommend if you like Shakespeare retellings. The afterword in this book, when the author explains how she created this story, is really interesting.
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You definitely need to have Macbeth fairly clear in your mind going into this, as it's told from a duel perspective (Lady Macbeth and Albia), and Macbeth himself is more of a secondary character.
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I really liked the fantasy elements in this story, but struggled a bit to root for any of the characters. I know I was meant to sympathize with Lady Macbeth, but I just couldn't.
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Definitely recommend if you like Shakespeare retellings. The afterword in this book, when the author explains how she created this story, is really interesting.
August 29, 2018
Dearest Fleance, and Albia.
For when he tried to brag, I just quickly turn my head the other way and said 'I think he let you win'. He began to shake vigorously for the anger doesn't sooth. Well, not instantly, that's for sure. I tend to disdain him because I'm too scare that he'll learn the truth -that I loves him- but I'm not so sure myself.
I will learn to fight like a man. So, that I will not need one to defend me.
THIS. I love this sentence.
For when he tried to brag, I just quickly turn my head the other way and said 'I think he let you win'. He began to shake vigorously for the anger doesn't sooth. Well, not instantly, that's for sure. I tend to disdain him because I'm too scare that he'll learn the truth -that I loves him- but I'm not so sure myself.
I will learn to fight like a man. So, that I will not need one to defend me.
THIS. I love this sentence.
November 12, 2018
This was a beautiful and artistic story. I applaud the introduction of a fictional character to give new perspective and motive to the famous tale of Macbeth. It was made even greater having just read/watched a version of the Shakespearean play before reading this book.
July 31, 2019
Skip this one
While I usually enjoy this author’s historical and literary imaginings, this one just wasn’t for me. The three sisters weren’t believable and I found the main character uninteresting.
While I usually enjoy this author’s historical and literary imaginings, this one just wasn’t for me. The three sisters weren’t believable and I found the main character uninteresting.
December 10, 2019
This was a great story based on Shakespeare's Macbeth. It was sometimes written from the daughter's point of view and other chapters written from the mother's perspective. It was very well written and thoroughly enjoyable. I would recommend it to others.
July 1, 2021
An interesting take on Shakespeare’s play with the addition of a daughter for Macbeth. The story tracks her fortunes and love interwoven with scenes from the original. I enjoyed the book but felt that the pace slowed towards the end and lost some of the engagement.
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