With such a title, Lady Macbeth Daughter of Ravens, it is impossible not to think immediately to Shakespeare's Macbeth, the work that is considered as his most tragic one (and the blurb of our book will dispel any doubt). Thinking to the Shakespearean Macbeth will not be wrong, since the characters of the classic story play also in Karsak’s where once again everything is or will be influenced by political decisions of others. However, until now, I do not believe I can say that it is a retelling.
It is not a retelling primarily because the events of the Ravens Daughter take place before she becomes Lady Macbeth. We get to know her at age of 16, and she knows already all the drawbacks of being a woman not only in that period of time, but also of being a woman of noble birth and very close to the king on the line of succession. Why? Because there is no freedom, no free will, but only the strings and machinations, alliances for the benefit of the one who, for now, occupies the throne.
The action of this first volume focuses and takes place in the period in which the heroine's basic character takes shape, in which she is formed as a woman, in which she takes the decisions that will affect her for life. A period in which she will (re)discover love and she will become aware of the risk of losing it.
Everything happens in a world full of magic and restrictions. In a world where not only the people have plans and aspirations of absolute power, but also the old Celtic deities that have been or will be replaced by the "White Christ". A world in which few will still follow the old ways, but they will follow it resolutely. A world where the evil and darkness are accepted as normal, natural and necessary as good and light. A world where death is the end of life, but not of the existence. Superstitions, legends, traditions, ancient rituals and historical facts will be found in abundance and will leave their mark on the fate and soul of our heroine. The writer offers a large amount of information that I wanted to check immediately, to give them historic landmarks and to absorb them.
Our heroine's actions are influenced by others since her birth, her life thread is routed from her first cry as a newborn. Then she will found herself as a main element in a game of all those who crave for power. All those who can, will manipulate regardless the world they belong to.
The romance is pretty intense. Love at first sight (that exists contrary to what someone say) between Lady Macbeth and Banquo appears to be every woman's dream, but unfortunately for these lovers their love seems to be, once again, under a tragic star.
I liked this first volume of the series, but it only sets the stage, the premises, the goals and indicate what lies ahead, but leaving room for surprises too. Even if it is hard to presume that there will be a HEA, it remains to be seen how our heroine will manage, who for the moment avidly accumulates everything she discover or learn, but still fails to elude from the influence of others.
About the author:
Melanie Karsak is the author of the Amazon best-selling steampunk series The Airship Racing Chronicles (Chasing the Star Garden and Chasing the Green Fairy) and the award-wining horror/dark fantasy Harvesting Series. She grew up in rural northwestern Pennsylvania and earned a Master’s degree in English from Gannon University. A steampunk connoisseur, white elephant collector, and zombie whisperer, the author currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children. She is an Instructor of English at Eastern Florida State College.
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