Vile Lady Villains

by Danai Christopoulou

With the consequences of her murderous actions closing in, Lady Macbeth turns to the three witches for help. She’s given a brew that transports her to an unknown realm. Desperately lost, she opens a door and comes face to face with a beautiful woman drenched in blood.

Klytemnestra, Queen of Mycenae, is exacting bloody vengeance on her husband. Yet as she revels in her triumph, an otherworldly door appears and a strange woman steps in. Thinking this stranger a spirit, she chases Lady Macbeth into the realm of stories.

Hunted by screaming wraiths into worlds that are hell bent on their demise, this murderous pair are forced to form an alliance or perish. Yet the realm’s goddess, The Mistress of the House of Books, claims to hold the key to saving them. But can they trust this ancient goddess?

As every threat brings our vile lady villains closer, turning ill intentions into fiery attraction that no author dare write, they have a remain within the confines of their original tales … Or burn down the world to pen a new story together . . .

Genres: Fantasy, Lesbian, Queer, Horror, Adult, LGBT, Romance

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 2, 2026

About the author

Danai Christopoulou is a Greek author raised on a diet of myths and tragedies. Danai’s writing has appeared in Glamour, Marie Claire, khōréō, Fusion Fragment, Flame Tree Press, Writer's Digest and more, nominated for a Pushcart Prize and for a Best of Small Fictions, longlisted for a BSFA Award and featured on the Nebula and Stoker recommended reading lists. Vile Lady Villains, Danai’s debut novel, comes out in the UK with Penguin Michael Joseph in April 2026, in the US with Union Square & Co in May 2026, and in Greece with Anubis Books. Growing up amid the ancient ruins of Athens, Greece, Danai currently haunts a forest in Sweden. You can find them on social media at @danaiwrites.

To get the latest VILE LADY VILLAINS news first: https://danai-writes.beehiiv.com/subs...

Reviews

[Ricarda]

Title: intriguing.
Characters: murderous.
Cover: definitely not straight.
Verdict: I will be reading.

[AR · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as an ARC and thought I knew what I was headed into - except I sorta didn't and I ended up loving it even more!

So, lemme pick that apart, I suppose...

If you like retellings, this is for you.
If you like portals and doors and mirrors, this is for you.
If you like braided narratives, this is for you.
If you like breaking the 4th wall, this is for you.
If you like structural shenanigans, this is for you.
If you like liminal spaces, this is for you.
If you like solidly crafted characters who do vile things in loveable ways, this is for you.
If you like being kept on your toes by characters and feeling unsure whom to trust, this is for you.
If you like the classics, but also feel that they didn't quite hit the spot for you, or that they could hit different spots that you never knew existed... then this is for you.
And if you like sapphic feminine rage, then this is also for you.

In short: this is for you.

[⋆ forest ˖]

THIS COVER???? HELLO??? 😫

[blank ⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺]

got the ARC <3

[Aila Krisse · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a great premise but really struggles with its execution. I’m always a sucker for sapphic retellings, though this is not a retelling exactly, it does use previously established stories and characters. Which is one of its main issues.

The two main characters are Klytemnestra and Lady Macbeth; I’ve only read the latter’s source material and felt there was little to no continuity in her characterisation there and her characterisation here.

The issue of continuity is further exacerbated by the language used. It is not overtly or explicitly modern, there is no obvious anachronistic vocabulary in any of the characters speech. But it does still feel anachronistic. Characters that are supposed to be from an earlier era are generally expected to talk in a certain way in media, even if that is perhaps not historically accurate and if the characters do not use language in such a way, they will never feel as though they are from another era. While there an argument can be made that Klytemnestra’s speech needn’t be ‘archaicised’, the same cannot be said for Lady Macbeth. Her character in this book is supposedly the very same one found in the Shakespeare play, yet they speak in vastly different ways. She doesn’t need to communicate exclusively in iambic pentameter, but you cannot just have her speak completely normally and still expect readers to believe that these two characters are one and the same.

There was an opportunity here to use a character’s language as a storytelling device; have Lady Macbeth and Klytemnestra speak in an archaic, more stilted way initially, and slowly alter their speech to be less formal and more lively as they grow to know each other, which would have helped their relationship feel more organic, more real.

The relationship between Klytemnestra and Lady Macbeth is the main throughline of this story and yet it is massively underdeveloped. I expected them to fall in love because I read the blurb, and still, when they share a kiss for the first time it came as a surprise, since I had not realised either character had feelings for the other intense enough to warrant such an act of affection. Their relationship never managed to feel real, the text includes moments that are meant to indicate a kindling romance, but there was never any spark that would lead me to believe that there actually was any emotion behind it.

I really wish I could’ve liked this book. When I first read the blurb I was very intrigued and added the book to my TBR immediately. It made me expect a darkly humorous tale of two vile lady villains, filled with mischief and mayhem. Unfortunately, it ended up being not especially humorous, and rather tame.
———
Thank you to Michael Joseph Penguin Random House for the ARC

[T.L. Coughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

VILE LADY VILLAINS is an absolute masterpiece. I count myself lucky to have read an early copy. Christopoulou takes familiar characters, those whose stories were written for them, and paints them in a vivid new display. Once side characters used as literary tools for their featured male counterparts, these vile lady villains take new shape, leading a story that is all their own.

I held my breath countless times between the stunning world, addictive writing, and Lady Macbeth and Klytemnestra’s relentless battle for survival. All to lose it as I was swept by the emotional undercurrent of their stabby sapphic will-they-won’t-they journey.

In a world that needs it now more than ever, Christopoulou brings forth the notion that to retell is to rebel. This story is incredibly unique and the writing is otherworldly.

I cannot wait until you can all witness its magic.

[Kiara Mars · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy of Vile Lady Villains and I'm so glad I did!

I started reading not really knowing what to expect and I was surprised in the best way possible!
The concept is incredibly original. I loved how the author masterfully brings together two villainnesses from completely different eras and stories, then watching how the unite to rebel against the predetermined paths assigned for them and fight for a future of their own choice. The world-building was also complex and well-executed: the idea of a liminal place where fictional characters wait to be chosen by a new author and rewritten is really fascinating.

[rachel x]

"For fans of A Dowry of Blood and Piranesi, an unforgettable horromantasy ride into the realm of stories bringing together literature's most famous lady villains, Lady Macbeth & Clytemnestra..."

hell yeah

[Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I’m rating this a 4 for Netgalley and Goodreads, but more accurately it’s a 3.5. I also lost the notes I took while reading as I deleted the book on my device before starting to write my review (rookie mistake), so I might forget some details or leave out something by accident.

Vile Lady Villains was not really what I was expecting. I’m not the most familiar with Greek/Roman mythology and legend (past my Percy Jackson obsession in middle school) and have literally never read any Shakespeare, so most of what I know about Klytemnestra and Lady MacMeth come from cultural osmosis. After the authors note, VLV really just throws you in. Lady MacBeth’s perspective begins at the end of her tale, while Klytemnestra’s is just beginning with her murdering her husband. This is both good and bad, as for people familiar with their stories, exposition setting up these characters and their background is going to feel redundant and boring. Whereas for folks like me with less in depth knowledge, it feels like you’re reading a sequel, where you already know and care for the established characters.

Their characterisation was hit or miss for me as well. I can’t speak to their “out-of-character”-ness but something felt off about Lady MacBeth. The three witches, or the Fates (which I found the combination of these roles incredibly clever and fitting), say that with the two of them together, there’s nothing they cannot accomplish or get through. But in truth, Lady MacBeth is too soggy kitten to be useful. Klytemnestra seemed at first to be the more physical character. She wields a knife, she does more fighting and takes more action in situations. It seemed to me like Lady MacBeth would become the smooth talker of sorts, showing the dichotomy of their villainy, the careful planning of Lady MacBeth against the vengeful violence of Klytemnestra. But then you have scenes of speaking and, again, Klytemnestra takes the more active role. Lady MacBeth will think, or occasionally insult or question, but Klytemnestra is who really makes things happen. It made the dual perspective feel quite imbalanced.

The characters also seemed to only exist within the scene, if that makes sense. They did not think or really internally struggle with their past (and, in some cases, future) actions unless specifically prompted. I did not come away from this book knowing all that much more about Lady MacBeth or Klytemnestra. I don’t even remember the name of the daughter Agamemnon sacrificed, despite this appearing to be pivotal for Klytemnestra. This should’ve begun right before Lady MacBeth seemingly killed herself, her absolute lowest moment, but with how much plot is introduced, it’s like all of it went to the wayside. Both characters desperately want to get home, but I have no idea why. From what has been presented to be about their pasts, they seem better off here. It made it difficult to follow the story. Despite this, it was incredibly entertaining, I cannot deny.

I want to note that Lady Macbeth and Klytemnestra are renamed within the book to Anassa and Claret. There’s a great scene where Klytemnestra asks Lady MacBeth for her name, for which she responds “Lady MacBeth.” Klytemnestra declares that she doesn’t want her husband's name, but the woman's own. Lady MacBeth has no answer, she even says she doesn’t remember. To me, this is great. It speaks to a depersonalization of Lady MacBeth, she has no identity outside of her husband and their ambitions, while also showing she is a character, one that doesn’t exist outside of the manuscript of MacBeth. This makes Klytemnestra’s renaming of her to Anassa, meaning queen, really fitting and just a great moment. I have no complaints with this choice. Klytemnestra, on the other hand, does not need to be renamed. Perhaps there’s something I’m missing, but I don’t see the point of the renaming. It works as a nickname, Lady MacBeth must follow the “path of claret,” meaning blood, and she finds Klytemnestra (covered in blood). Badabing badaboom, Klytemnestra becomes Claret. I just don’t think it was necessary. Maybe in a sort of “they become more than what they were written to be” way, but like, she has a name. I’ll stop ragging on it, but I would like to see what others think. Going forward, I will be calling them by their new names (they’re much easier to spell and my autocorrect is failing me).

Anassa and Claret are undeniably super cute. There’s some anachronisms, especially with how Anassa thinks about Claret’s appearance. I wish I could quote, but lets just say, it’s a lot of talk about curves and hips. Which, I get you girl, but should I really be relating to an 11th century Scottish noblewoman in this way? There’s a great scene where they meet what appears to be Anassa’s husband and Claret immediately wants to kill him. This scene was super fun to read because these vile lady villains oozed character, I just wish they got to more often. Helene and Ophelia are also such interesting characters, they get to mirror the girls and show what they could become. Helene is a legend that has been whitewashed over time, whereas Ophelia is stuck repeating her most iconic lines and actions.

I would also like to note that Claret’s hair is described as blonde, despite being red on the cover. This is not a continuity error, her hair gets dyed roughly halfway through the book. Though, there are far less knives to the throat after that.

I fully intend on purchasing a finished copy, as I’d love to reread this (perhaps after learning more about Lady MacBeth and Klytemnestra) and see what changed and stayed the same. Overall, I had a great time, I always wanted to find out what happened next. This falls into a similar boat as First Kill, not perfect, but so, so entertaining.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC for this novel. All thoughts are my own.

“If someone were to tear my bones apart, would they find a heap of words inside, my marrow made up of long monologues and ink?”

Never has there been a book more catered to me, specifically. This story has everything, Greek mythology, Shakespeare, beautiful writing and a deep, reverent love for stories and how they change over time.

I really liked this a lot, the merging the forebears of Western Literature, focusing specifically on Klytemnestra and Lady Macbeth, two singularly murderous women, finding their own stories and their own peace within one another.

Vile Lady Villains is more internal than it is a traditional Hero’s Journey and it’s also extremely meta. Not only are we merging Klytemnestra’s and Lady Macbeth’s tales, we are also exploring how these stories came to be. We explore Scottish castles and ancient liminal spaces, meeting the Moirai, the wielders of fate, and so many familiar characters, amongst the gorgeous narratives spun by Danai Christopolou.

It was so exciting and refreshing to read something that builds upon Greek mythology, by a Greek author. I often get frustrated with the Anglo-centric narratives spun by modern retellers, and in this novel, even this is referenced by one of the characters, a sort of custodian of stories.

There is a preface that provides the reader with the source material of the works of literature beforehand, but I have a bit of an obsession with the Mycenaean sagas and some of these would provide a little more context surrounding the events of Klytemnestra, and also touching on some of the supporting characters in the story ^.^

pre/post reading list:
- The Iliad
- Iphigenia (1977 film), cacoyannis
- The Oresteia, Aeschylus
- Elektra, Euripides
- Macbeth, William Shakespeare
- Hamlet, William Shakespeare

[Marisa Urgo]

I can't wait!!

[Tia]

Tell me more. Immediately.

[Lucia]

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

[Lianne Dubbs]

Review to come.

[Amelia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

There wasn’t a bone in my body that went into this thinking I was going to do anything but love this. Unfortunately I’ve go to say I just didn’t.

We’ll start with the good as always.

I loved Anassa and Claret. There’s nothing slow burn about them and I loved the immediacy the author gives them. There’s no waiting around and in the context of this adrenaline and uncertainty, I found this worked really really well.

Vile Lady Villains is very meta and while a bit peculiar I really enjoyed that. There’s plenty of nods to offpage stuff that feel quite fun, and there’s a number of reveals that can easily get the Shakespeare/Greek myth-buffs really excited.

This is very meandering, but there’s enough interesting world and plot here that I didn’t find this frustrating where it might have been in another setting. The author does a fabulous job of writing his and very powerful characters, she absolutely nails the ancient, dangerous voice especially with Shepherd.

Unfortunately, I also struggled a lot.

This was just so bogged down by prose, and I’m someone who absolutely adores prose-packed books. But nothing here was said simply, every description had to be packed with description and metaphor and simile. Don’t get me wrong, it was all stunning. But there comes a point where it just got exhausting to read, when you’ve got to reread everything to get to a very simple point.

There were so many passages, particularly in the action scenes where I was just frustrated. Bits that could have been so impactful if the author had pulled the punches on her prose and give weight instead of beauty to her writing.

Pacing was also something I really struggled with.

This book is, for the most part, a dual point of view, which is my favourite kind of writing. However, the author insists on ending every single chapter with a cliffhanger. Great in theory, but when the next chapter must always be the alternating perspective, and the author insists on picking up the really cool ending plot point from the previous chapter a good few pages into the next, it doesn’t prolong or emphasise anticipation. It makes it putter out like cheap candles under gentle breezes.

Quite a bit of this read like the author wrote with her word count off and realised at the last minute she was close to the max word count. Because whereas there’s enormous amounts of page space taken up on describing and redescribing appearance and motive and just how hot Anassa/Claret are. We hit the final 10% and suddenly everything shifts into eleventh gear and not in a good way unfortunately.

The climax feels rushed, everything we’ve been working toward feels far too neatly tied together. Plot points begin just piling together and characters dropped a couple hundred pages earlier, Hercules, the Gods etc suddenly remember they’ve got plot relevance. It just happens all too quickly and without enough stakes to leave me with any sort of impact.

I went to the Goodreads page before writing this and find this is classed as horror/thriller. I’m sorry to say it is neither when it could have so well been both. Aside from murder there’s no real horror elements and this was far too dragging to be classed as thriller. Fantasy? Yes, romance? Overwhelmingly.

But the author doesn’t lean into either genre interestingly enough to this book to have a real impact unfortunately.

And then there’s the issue of the 40-year-old newborns. If not already immensely obvious, this follows Lady Macbeth and Klymenestra. Characters even my baby brother who’s reading starts and ends at Captain Underpants when he was eleven, probably knows the names of. These (among others, Ophelia, Helene, as well as the nonfictional like Shakespeare or Marlowe) are characters with so much canonical and non canonical writing on them.

Yet from page one it’s like these pages were the first breaths these characters have ever taken. We enter VLV at the climax of Anassa’s and Claret’s “previous stories” as it were, yet we get no sense of impact emotional or physical on what’s just happened to them. They get so swept up in each other and “fixing” the now, that when you get into the thick of the actual plot, scaffolded on what happens before this book commences, you just… don’t really have any real idea of why. The author begins scrambling to explain motive and morale quite late on when that legwork should have been done earlier.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3.5 stars!

Potential minor spoilers throughout the review.

This book is simultaneously a poetic homage/retelling and a bold, fresh sapphic horrormance/fantasy. We follow Lady Macbeth (Anassa) and Klytemnestra (dubbed Claret for most of the book) as their stories intertwine and branch into something brand new, a delicious race through realms with the help - or misfortunes - of the three witches/fates, and a mysterious goddess whose guidance might hide dark secrets about where story characters really end up...

Pros: The prose is beautiful, with the author having a firm grasp of original metaphors and colourful descriptions. I like my metaphors and imagery with bite, and this book had plenty of sharp teeth! I'm not a fan of overly flowery prose, so it surprised me how quickly I read this book (in under two days!)

I love how vicious and badass Claret was as a character. She had so much spark and attack, and I definitely favoured her POV. Her motives were always clear and believable, and I would easily vote her as my queen.

The pacing is another strong pro here, as the only time I was pulling away a bit was during the 40/50% mark, which, honestly, I find so common with most books, and was partially because the main two characters were separated and I just wanted them back together! But I devoured it in a few sittings, and the action was always going.

Critique: On the other hand, there was certainly an overuse of metaphors and over-emphasis on certain words and imagery, such as blood, ink and dagger. It might be that, as an author, I tend to notice overused words a lot, but once I kept noticing dagger/blade being used every page, it got a bit frustrating. And the story could've benefitted from some simpler sentences to anchor the story amidst the metaphors, as lovely as they were, it did get heavy at times.

My final critique was that because I enjoyed Claret's POV so much, I struggled to connect with Anassa in equal measure. Especially as (SPOILER) we later meet another version (the historical figure who potentially inspired her character) who felt WAY more like how I imagined the deadly, manipulative and clever Lady Macbeth to be. I found her less compelling and less active as a player in the story than Claret.

I have some thoughts about how the meta angle was brought in, and it did feel a bit clumsily written at times, wandering into 'what is a story really? Can a character become real? Can a character live on after their story?' etc, kind of whimsy, but it wasn't too distracting from how much I enjoyed the story and sapphic violent chaos overall.

[Terra ⭐️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have very mixed feelings about this book. Absolutely loved the last 60%--5 stars. I was very bored for the first 20%, and was ehhh on the middle next 20%--2 stars.

We follow two historical characters, Klytemnestra (aka Claret) and Lady Macbeth (aka Anassa). I will preface this by saying I am much more familiar with Klytemnestra (read Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati, it’s really good), and I have basically zero knowledge of Lady Macbeth. I definitely missed a ton of Shakespeare references, and I could tell I was missing them, but I could still enjoy the book. The first 20% is about Claret (ugh, I hate this name and how many times this word was used to describe the color red) and Anassa being flung together into an unknown dimension right before they are about to be killed in their main story lines. We get stuck in this story “storage unit” for an unbearably long time. Ostensibly, we are supposed to learn about the politics of the story characters, their story creators, and the manager of the realm in this section. But rest assured!! We will eventually get to go into other stories (which is what I thought this whole book was going to be about--this is why I was so bored during the first section).

And yes, we do get a sapphic relationship, but the relationship was lowkey disappointing because it didn’t feel very romantic at all :(. The inner thoughts of Claret and Anassa describe how amazing and cool and hot they find the other person, but their actual interactions leave a lot to be desired. This might be a me-issue because I found the writing style very matter-of-fact with little space for yearningggg. Everything inside their heads was very clear, but it was hard to feel connected to their outside actions.

I loved the side character Shepard, and his relationship with Claret was hilarious. I really enjoyed the journey into other stories, and I wish that was 90% of the book. We did not need a lengthy journey just to get to the story “storage unit,” especially because the journey didn’t even matter in the end. Also, it was incredibly difficult to see the motivation of the three witches, who are the characters that incite the plot. I was frustrated while reading because I was constantly asking, “why on earth would they randomly pick these ladies to….. change their stories?” The political motivation should’ve been set up clearly from the start, so that the reader is clued into the larger political backdrop (if you can call it that). That way, the reader gets to have fun theorizing instead of just going “huh?” the whole time.

Anyways, I would definitely recommend this book for the second half alone. Thank you, NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for an ARC in exchange for a fair review.

[Em ☽✦ღ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ ½

Vile Lady Villains is bold, strange, and unapologetically indulgent, and even when it didn’t fully work for me, I found myself respecting the ambition behind it.

Anassa and Claret were easily one of my favourite elements. Their relationship skips the slow burn entirely and goes straight for intensity, which I actually enjoyed. In a story this chaotic and high-stakes, the immediacy of their connection felt intentional rather than rushed, and their chemistry carried a lot of the emotional weight for me. There’s a sense that they choose each other quickly because time, safety, and certainty are luxuries this world doesn’t offer.

The book also leans heavily into its mythological and literary influences, and I had a lot of fun with that. There are plenty of moments that feel designed to reward readers who love recognising familiar names, archetypes, and narrative echoes from Greek myth and classic tragedy. The story is very self-aware in how it plays with these elements, and when it embraces that meta quality, it becomes especially engaging. Some of the more powerful characters carry an ancient, ominous presence that really works and adds to the atmosphere.

Where I struggled was with the density of the writing. The prose is undeniably gorgeous, but it’s also relentless!! Almost every idea is wrapped in layers of imagery and figurative language, and while I usually enjoy richly descriptive writing, here it sometimes made scenes feel heavier than they needed to be. A few moments (especially during action or emotionally charged sequences) might have landed harder with more space to breathe.

The pacing was another mixed point for me. The story takes its time for much of the book, wandering through character dynamics and thematic ideas, and then suddenly speeds through the final stretch. The conclusion pulls together a lot of threads very quickly, and while everything technically comes together, I didn’t feel the full impact I’d been building toward.

All that said, I still had a genuinely good time reading this. It’s messy, daring, romantic, and unafraid to be peculiar. Even when I felt frustrated, I appreciated what the book was reaching for, and I think anyone who enjoys lush prose, morally complicated women, and myth-inspired fantasy will find a lot to love here.

[Josie-Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vile Lady Villains follows Lady Macbeth and Klytemnestra, two women thrown into an unknown realm where wraiths are hunting them and only an ancient goddess holds the key to saving them.

I'd like to begin this by saying that I DNF'd this book around 33% in however I will start with the reasons as to why I wanted to read this book. The description of the book caught my eye as it's two women from literature who I am a big fan of - both are ruthless, strong and cunning in their own individual ways and therefore I thought that throwing them together would be an incredible story. Similarly, the cover of the book did catch my attention.

Despite this, I did find the description to be slightly misleading as nothing felt magical or natural throughout the pages which I read. Neither Klytemnestra nor Lady Macbeth did anything to capture my attention nor affection throughout the 133 pages I read. I found that I kept skimming paragraphs just to try and get a move on with the story but had to stop myself to actually digest what I was reading. In the end, it was not worth it for me to continue as I was forcing myself to be a part of the story.

The writing style is OK. Christopoulou has a very descriptive and whimiscal writing style. It's descriptive to an extent but I wasn't able to conjure up any imagery in my head to keep the story going and I think this is where I might have dropped off for this book as I couldn't get fully invested into it. I also found it really pulled me out of the book when the prose didn't flow properly between the two main characters and others within the story.

Overall, the book was quite underwhelming for me. I liked the idea of it compared to the execution. I do believe that others would greatly enjoy this book, I am just sadly not one of them.

[Hannah Deverall]

Clytemnestra and Lady McBeth team up to save their stories, themselves, and even fall in love in Danai Christopoulou's Vile Lady Villains. Lady McBeth makes a deal with the three witches, and winds up coming into contact with Clytemnestra, who just recently murdered her husband after his return from the decade long trojan war. The two women, while first at odds, quickly begin to acknowledge that the sparks that fly between them have very little to do with anger - if you get what I mean. They are thrust into a foreign world, and must confront the realisation that both women are fictional characters, and must save all others like them from imminent doom.

Vile Lady Villains was a very fun and original book that had me enraptured from the very first page. Lady McBeth and Clytemnestra were very fun and unapologetic characters, and reading about them getting to know each other and falling in love with each other was a highlight of the book. The novel was very fast paced in my opinion, which was a good decision for most of the book, but there were several points where I felt that certain aspects of the story were being skipped over and could do with further elaboration.

Christopoulou's novel was a highly anticipated read for me, and it did not disappoint. Obviously, I would recommend this novel to both fans of Greek and British Isle mythology, with Bea Fitzgerald, Sophie Keetch, and Costanza Casati being some notable authors to look out for. I would highly recommend this book to all those wishing for a mythological crossover resulting in sapphic love, with unapologetic protagonists to boot. Thank you to Union Square & Co. for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Alyssa Radigan-Cordes · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC copy received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

The premise of this book is excellent, but definitely falls under the "romantasy" umbrella - perhaps gothic or dark fantasy?  It was a real slog to get through this one despite its prose being engaging.  I spent almost half of the book asking myself "who is this for and where is this going?"

I think it was a mistake to claim (and I assume carry through the story) the idea that one does not need to know the source material in order to understand the characters.  This led to Claret and Anassa feeling like it was their first day on earth despite the plot giving them histories before their stories.  

There were breadcrumbs and Easter eggs for those familiar with the source material, but it felt very hollow when the main characters have so little personality development.  Side characters like Helene of Troy could have been utilized better, especially considering how Helen of Troy and Clytaemnestra have husband/destruction stories that are meant to be juxtaposed to each other.

The first 150-175 pages of the book develop slowly, but the last 40 moving at a speed that will give the reader whiplash.  The conclusion is unsatisfying due to its pacing.  I remain unsure of what the attraction is between the two main characters.

It's a shame because the premise is excellent and the words written in the page are beautiful.  I am left feeling like the people best suited for this book are people who enjoyed high school literature class and wish they had a sapphic romance about it, but make it written with the depth of Disney's Descendants franchise.

[Lillyanna L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arc Review: Vile Lady Villains by Danai Christopoulou
🩸📚⚔️
Vile Lady Villains is a dark, imaginative reimagining that brings together two infamous women of literature, Lady Macbeth and Klytemnestra, and places them in a dangerous alliance shaped by vengeance, survival, and growing attraction. With the consequences of their murderous actions closing in, they are forced to flee through strange realms and unfamiliar stories while being hunted by forces determined to erase them.
I really enjoyed the writing style and the overall tone of the book. The prose has a dark, mythic quality that fits these characters well, and the cover immediately drew me in. That said, I struggled a bit with the setting. The nebulous, dreamlike realms made it hard for me to fully ground myself in the story, and I often felt slightly disconnected as the characters moved from place to place.
🩸📚⚔️
I rated Vile Lady Villains three stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️. While the premise is intriguing, I found myself wishing Lady Macbeth and Klytemnestra had been explored more deeply beyond what we already know about them. I also didn’t initially realize this was a crossover between the two characters, which affected how I experienced the story going in. I wanted more time spent digging into their inner lives and what truly sets them apart when removed from their original tales.
There’s still a lot to appreciate here. The concept of allowing literary “villains” to step outside their stories and potentially rewrite their fates is compelling, and the atmosphere is dark and ambitious. I think readers who enjoy experimental settings, mythic retellings, and morally gray women will find a lot to like in this one.

[Erik Hilbert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Because I hadn’t even heard of the Tragedie of Macbeth or Klytemnestra, I had no idea this was a crossover fanfiction when I opened this book. The bulk of the villainy in this book happens off screen, in the original works, and I was left sorely disappointed. I’m not sure how I feel about the plot: I think the story of characters of a book finding out what they are can be compelling, but at the same time, I had no familiarity with the source material, so I didn’t really care that much about the main characters and I thought the romance leaves much to be desired as well. Overall, the entire book was just too meta for me.

However, I did like some of the side characters, especially Will, and I enjoyed reading the part where they travel to meet the queen. Not sure how accurate he was to real life or how accurate any of the depictions of the characters are, but I thought he was cool, and I liked reading about him interact with the main characters. Speaking of cool, the thing with the crows and Anassa was very much so. Also, I thought the loop to the beginning of the book was very satisfying at the end.

Having finished this book, I feel neutral about it and I don’t know who I would recommend this to. There are definitely better lesbian romances out there, but maybe this book is a much better experience for those that have read the source material. Who knows.

[Cass · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Union Square & Co and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.

Vile Lady Villains follows Anassa and Claret, versions of Lady Macbeth and Klytemnestra who are pulled into a story realm where they must form an alliance to figure out the world and themselves.

I really enjoyed the writing in this book. I loved reading the prose and the world that was built. Anassa and Claret were also interesting characters and I enjoyed their interactions with the world around them. I especially enjoyed the sections within the story realm where Anassa and Claret were interacting with characters from either their own stories or others by the same author.

I felt like the characters weren’t really developed past their original story versions. It was like they were both trapped right at their final moments in their original stories and seemed to barely react to the bizarre circumstances happening to them. I also felt like the attraction between them wasn’t earned and might have worked better as simply an uneasy alliance with a little extra tension.

But overall, I really enjoyed the prose and had a good time reading it.

Thank you again to Union Square & Co and NetGalley for the chance to read this early.

[Abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this incredible book!

Vile Lady Villans is such a lively, well-written novel. It was a magical blend of a lot of various elements that I adore: crossing the 4th wall, feminine rage & power, and retellings. Two very prominent female characters get the opportunity to redefine their narratives, without men. They go on a journey of absolute pure discovery that leads them to one another and to the truth of who they are.

The pacing was fantastic. I never found myself getting bored because the author was consistently adding something fresh to the story, whether that be a rich description or introduction of a new character/concept. What made it so fantastic is that everything was relevant to the plot and the driving point of the story. I wasn't at risk of being distracted or overwhelemed.

The characters were also so well-represented. Anassa and Claret both have their own distinctive personalities, including strengths and weaknesses that lovingly play off one another. The romance was so lush and gooey and REAL! The gradual build up and increase of not just love, but mutual admiration, was so beautiful. I highly reccomend!

[Emily Davies (libraryofcalliope) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the ARC of this book!

When I saw a description of this book, I knew I had to read it. A dark romantasy starring Klytemnestra and Lady Macbeth, two of my favourite female characters in literature? Yes, please.

Vile Lady Villains doesn't take a straightforward approach to its conceit. This is a book concerned with stories. The resulting narrative is certainly interesting and compelling but as the story went on, it did tend to focus on this plot instead of its characters when the blurb of the book made me think it would be the other way around.

At the beginning of the book, I appreciated the characterisations of its principle characters and how they weren't toned down to be made more palatable, especially Klytemnestra. However, as the story went on, the characters lose a sense of identity. They are either not given enough time to develop in response to the things going on around them or emotional milestones are reached far too quickly and feel unearned.

This was an interesting book and I enjoyed reading it but considering how important characters are symbolically to the narrative, the characters actually in the story felt like more of an afterthought.

[Ren. · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review:

Vile Lady Villains is a story about stories. In this novel, we follow the characters Klytemnestra and Lady Macbeth as they embark on a journey to find their way back to their original stories in their respective eras, while ultimately creating and building a brand new story together as Claret and Anassa.

I loved how well the different stories were interwoven and balanced with mythology. I enjoyed seeing Klytemnestra's character arc remain consistent with the character traits of her original story. Where we got to see her strong/persistent side, while also seeing the gentle/loving side as her relationship with Anassa grows and changes. I'd say Lady Macbeth's character arc came off the most different from her original story in the early stages of the book. Her character archetype was missing its usual cunning and came off more feeble and "damsel in distress" -ish. However, as the story progesses Lady Macbeth comes back into her cunning nature in somewhat of a new light, shaped by the events of the story that I really enjoyed. It was fun watching Claret and Anassa grow into who they wanted to be, and creating a story where fate lies in their own hands.

[Eftychia Konstantaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT A BOOK!

I would not say I'm a huge fan of "unsanctioned crossovers" but I am a fan of Klytemnestra, so no way I would miss on this. Firstly, let me tell you about how well written it is! I almost always prefer to read non-english authors' english books, because you know they will be bangers! Nobody can find the exact word that you need to convey a feeling/color/message like someone whose mother language is another. And the plot! Oh the plooot! What an original! When you thought there is nothing new under the sun, Danai cleverly weaves and crafts, creating combinations of words that I did not think possible.

I have been following the writer on twitter for a while now, and I've seen snippets of Vile Ladies Villains (how badass is the title?!) so I was very curious as to how such a meeting would occur. SIMPLY is the answer, and when you think you have the book figured out, you're proven wrong.

I savoured the book (no spoilers) and then went back to the beginning and revisited my favorite parts, and yeah, it is still amazing despite knowing what you know after finishing it. Definitely a book that stays with you, and you can enjoy through rereads.

My favorite is when Claret is being the, unintentionally, funny murderess I knew her to be; pure bliss! I also had never highlighted so much in a book before! Definitely will be quoting a few lines.

I need more crossovers now, I need Danai to write about many more of these types of encounters 🥺 Please?!

Loved it, simply loved it!

[Olivia-Jobi Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

Vile Lady Villains is sharp, unapologetic, and deeply satisfying in the way only stories about morally corrupt women can be. This book leans fully into its premise, giving us female characters who are cruel, clever, and entirely uninterested in redemption arcs. The writing is punchy and confident, with moments that made me wince, laugh, and quietly applaud the audacity. I loved how the story interrogates power, entitlement, and female rage without softening its edges or asking the reader to excuse anyone’s behaviour. It’s dark, entertaining, and refreshingly unconcerned with likability — exactly what I wanted from it.

[Angel Shadd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the ARC.

I did not know how this would pan out. It’s rare for fantasy to be surprising, but this plot had some really stellar twists and turns.

Claret and Anassa are compelling protagonists. A Greek epic x Shakespeare crossover is original and took a lot of guts to attempt. There are many places where this could have gone wrong, but the world building is sufficient to carry two powerful leading ladies without becoming trite.

Claret/Klytemnestra is my favorite character. She’s a baddie b and just a genuine hoot. I don’t think any character has loved stabbing people as much as her. That damn knife is basically its own character.

Awesome debut!