Lady MacBethad

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What to expect

Bloomsbury presents Lady MacBethad by Isabelle Schuler, read by Sara Vickers.

LONGLISTED FOR THE CWA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION DAGGER 2024
LONGLISTED FOR THE GOLDSBORO GLASS BELL AWARD 2024

'Suspenseful, atmospheric and full of twists and turns, I loved the brutal, backstabbing world that Isabelle Schuler conjures up where only the most ruthless can survive' – Jennifer Saint

'Dazzlingly clever and difficult to put down' i


Power. History. Love. Hate. Vengeance.

She will be Queen. Whatever it takes...

Daughter of an ousted king. Descendant of powerful druids. Destined to take her place in history.

As a child, Gruoch’s grandmother prophecies that she will one day be Queen of Alba and reclaim the lands of her Pictish kin. When, many years later, she is betrothed to Duncan, the heir-elect, the prophecy appears to come true. Determined to never to be as powerless as her parents, Gruoch leaves behind her home, her family and her friend MacBethad, and travels to the royal seat at Scone to seal her fate.

But when a deadly turn of events forces Gruoch to flee Duncan and the capital, Gruoch finds herself at the mercy of an old enemy.

Her hope of becoming Queen all but lost, Gruoch does what she must to survive, until she is given a choice: live a long, peaceful life but fall into obscurity, or seize her chance for vengeance and a path back to the throne.

An unputdownable, sweeping historical epic, Lady MacBethad reimagines the life of Gruoch – the real life Scottish Queen who inspired one of Shakespeare's most famous characters.




Readers Reviews:
'I adored this book'
'One of the most interesting, complex and captivating protagonists I've ever come across'
'I could not put this book down'
'So good that I'm almost sad I've finished it'

Critics Review

Dazzlingly clever and difficult to put down
i
Suspenseful, atmospheric and full of twists and turns, I loved the brutal, backstabbing world that Isabelle Schuler conjures up where only the most ruthless can survive. A thoroughly enjoyable read!
Jennifer Saint, author of Sunday Times bestsellers, Ariadne and Elektra
Love, lust, revenge, power – this completely mesmerising historical debut has it all
Good Housekeeping
Exquisitely written, this poetic novel and its unforgettable heroine seems a shoo-in for this year’s Women’s Prize
Red
Isabelle Schuler’s Lady MacBethad achieves the unthinkable: transforming Shakespeare’s wicked queen into an empathetic heroine. I was transfixed by this wholly convincing tale of Scottish mormaers and machinations
Laura Shepperson, author of The Heroines
An extraordinary novel about an extraordinary and unforgettable character. Love, revenge, power and lust – Lady MacBethad has it all and is impossible to put down. Gruoch will stay with me for a long time, I loved her.
Emily Koch, author of If I Die Before I Wake and Keep Him Close
I loved this fierce and beautifully written book about power, love and destiny. Gruoch is an unforgettable heroine, her determination shines through the pages, and I struggled to put it down. Lady MacBethad is an inspiring, captivating, triumph of a book
Cressida McLaughlin
Stuck in a violent and male-dominated society, Gruoch MacBethad’s machinations are limitless. Every time her stubborn pride, unwavering ambition, and lust for revenge forced her hand, I was dizzy with intrigue, relief, admiration—and of course growing dread. Schuler’s masterful and captivating imagining of the early life of the real Lady Macbeth—one of history’s much-maligned women—slowly seduces you into turning page after engrossing page until suddenly you’re reading well into the night, holding your breath as the heart-pounding climax unfolds before you. Days later, and there remains this sense of tantalising, aching loss whenever I find myself thinking about the deeply complex yet very relatable Gruoch; I was utterly enthralled by her. Bold, brutal, and full of suspense, this dark and twisty epic is not to be missed
London Shah, Award-winning author of the Light in the Abyss series
Isabelle Schuler’s Lady MacBethad is a stunning debut, and sure to become an instant classic. Gruoch’s rise to power is utterly absorbing and believable, and she is a compelling and complex character. Schuler’s meticulously researched historical setting weaves history, folklore and literature to create an unputdownable read - even if we know how the story ends, we’re desperate to find out exactly how it began
Cailean Steed, author of Home
Lady MacBethad is a gripping and fiercely feminist reimagining of an extraordinary woman. Gruoch's tale is an utterly compelling and absorbing reframing of the character and the story we think we all know
Caroline Lea, author of The Glass Woman and The Metal Heart
The suspense-filled origin story of one of Shakespeare's best-known characters
BBC News, Books of 2023
Brimful with suspense, packed with power plays and sinister subterfuge
Daily Mail, New Year, New Reads chosen by Claire Allfree
It has everything you need from an immersive, captivating epic, packed with brilliant writing and a suspense-laden plot. There will certainly be a lot more to come from Schuler
Harper's Bazaar, The Best New Fiction Books to Read in 2023
Action-packed
Press Association, Debuts to Watch
As far as feminist retellings of traditional stories go, there is little that compares to the wealth of intrigue, exploration and developed depth that Schuler constructs. A wonderful read and highly recommended. It’s very easy to get lost in the world of the great Scottish Queen and her infamous husband
Chris Reed, NZ Booklovers
This Scottish Game of Thrones, by a Swiss American Hawaiian film-score writer and actress, is certainly a well-crafted page turner. Isabelle Schuler is skilled in complex plotting, memorable characterisation and in ending every chapter with a tempting twist in the narrative to encourage the reader to move to the next even when there are so many other duties calling. The book entertains
Otago Daily Times
Lady MacBethad by Isabelle Schuler is an action-packed historical tale and a reimagining of the life of the Scottish queen who inspired the story of Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth
Belfast Telegraph: Summer books 2023

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