Soldiers are gathering throughout Scotland, preparing for a great battle against the traitor who stands against the much-loved King Duncan, but nothing prepared Lady Mary for the news that her own father was a traitor to the crown and that her betrothed was killed in battle. Now Mary fears for her own life, especially as she slowly comes to realize the depths her guardians Lord and Lady MacBeth are willing to plumb in order to satisfy their cravings for power. Mary is trapped in a castle with nothing to warn her who not to trust except the pricking of her thumbs…

Enter Three Witches was a creepy atmospheric story set in gloomy castles among the fog-ridden bogs of Scotland crawling with witches demanding sacrifice and eager to share ominous portends of things to come. And mixed up in the middle of the intrigues of Shakespeare's Scottish play are fourteen-year-old Mary whose rich inherited lands make her a tantalizing matrimonial prize and Banquo's son Fleance whose need to prove himself keeps landing him in difficult situations. I really liked these two main characters (especially Fleance) and enjoyed reading the sections told from their point of view. Mary in particular is resourceful and brave, and she never felt unrealistic to me.

But however much I liked Mary, and for all the Shakespeare quotes sprinkled throughout, I felt that the most climactic bits of the play (Birnam Wood marching on Dunsinane; the final battle) were given only fleeting treatment in the book which seemed a shame. But the rich background Cooney gives the characters of the original play (and those that she adds) make for a compelling read - and one that had me reaching for my copy of Shakespeare as the author exhorts at the end.

I would definitely recommend Enter Three Witches for those struggling to get into Shakespeare's play - of for those that want a creepy Gothic young adult book to curl up with on a dreary day.

Also posted at A Hoyden's Look at Literature ( )

Reviewed by Jessica Cave for TeensReadToo.com

Caroline B. Cooney takes Shakespeare's MACBETH to new heights with ENTER THREE WITCHES.

Lady Mary is set for life. She has a bright future complete with a betrothal to a handsome boy, a castle of her own, and more than she could ever want. When her father is hanged for treachery, that bright future is ripped from her fingers. Instead, she becomes a maid in the household of Lord and Lady Macbeth, a dangerously powerful couple who will do anything to get their way.

As people drop dead and the events from MACBETH unfold around Mary, she finds that life is harder than she once believed.

This novel is enchanting, but difficult to follow at times. It bounces from character to character within the chapter, allowing you to see all that is happening at once. Ms. Cooney ties the novel in with Shakespeare's MACBETH using both events and quotes taken directly from the play. This is definitely recommended for the history buff or Shakespeare fan. ( )

A story of Macbeth, this is a compelling yet mesmerizing tale of murder, love and destiny.

Well written and engaging, this should be popular with teens.

This book is a retelling of McBeth through the eyes of a young lady at court, who is almost immediately made an orphan and ward of the court by the hanging of her father, Lord Cawdor for treason. Thus the story is told by someone completely, or virtually at the mercy of the MacBeth because of this the tale of their dissolution is even more terrifying. Although I have read and seen MacBeth, several times and enjoyed it reading this book made me realize I should go back and read it again. ( )

If you love Macbeth this book is a must read. We follow the terrible tale that is unravelled through the eyes of a young lady who is staying with the Macbeth's at Inverness. They travel all the way to Dunsinane when Birnam Wood moves. ( )