Lady MacBethad

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 * Lady MacBethad is a prequel to the play, which centres on the complex, complicated, ambitious character of Gruoch, a pagan princess destined to be queen by her marriage to MacBeth. 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 * 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 * Brimful with suspense, packed with power plays and sinister subterfuge * Daily Mail, New Year, New Reads chosen by Claire Allfree * Action-packed * Press Association, Debuts to Watch *