Lady MacBethad by Isabelle Schuler

Book Blurb
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.

My Review
Lady MacBethad tells the story of Gruoch Ingen Bolte, then Queen who inspired Shakespeare’s Lady MacBeth. This is a fitional account of Gruoch’s life, from childhood to her marriage to MacBethad, with whom she will fulfil her destiny. This is fast paced read, full of drama, conspiracy and romance, that gives a new perspective to Shakespeare’s Queen.

I have to say MacBeth is not my favourite Shakespeare play, probably due to studying it for my GCSE’s, but after reading this book I have a new respect for Lady MacBeth. Isabelle Schuler reinvents this dark and wicked Queen and portrays a tenacious young woman who fights for survival against the odds. I loved Gruoch, a young woman who received a prophecy from her Druid grandmother that she would be queen one day. Her self belief in this prophecy makes her determined, strong willed and full of self belief. However, she was also kind and had empathy for others making her a very likeable heroine. Her intelligence politicaly and scholarly make her a formidable adversary, and one never to be underestimated. I really warmed to her as her tenacity and self preservation at all costs drove her onwards.

I find it hard to believe that Lady MacBethad is the debut novel from Isabelle Schuler. The storytelling is masterful and from the first page you know this book is taking you on a fascinating and fast paced journey. The political intrigue, power struggles, and battles are thrilling and at times I felt the suspense and need for revenge seemed to drip of the page. There was so much detail in the prose that built a perfect picture of Scotland at this time, a place of different alligences and under constant threat of attack, from Northumbria in the south and the Norse from the North, a place of beauty as well as bleakness.

I think Lady MacBethad was a fabulous read of power, fate, politics and love. The fact that Isabelle Schuler has recreated Gruoch, making her likeable, a wonderful heroine whom I admired is quite a feat, as I’m not a fan of her in the play. Brilliant attention to detail, wounderful characterisation and a plot that hits the road running from the first page make this an impressive and inspired read. Simply sensational.

I would like to thank Raven Books for my copy of this book via NetGalley in return for my honest review.