«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

«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

«The suspense-filled origin story of one of Shakespeare's best-known characters»

BBC News, Books of 2023

«Dazzlingly clever and difficult to put down»

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