Lady MacBethad

Power. History. Love. Hate. Vengeance. She will be Queen. Whatever it takes…

Daughter of an ousted king, descendant of ancient druids, as a child it is prophesied that one day Gruoch will be queen of Alba. When she is betrothed to Duncan, heir elect, this appears to confirm the prophecy. She leaves behind her home, her family and her close friend MacBethad, and travels to the royal seat at Scone to embrace her new position. But nothing is as Gruoch anticipates.

Duncan’s court is filled with sly words and unfriendly faces, women desperate to usurp her position, and others whose motives are shrouded in mystery. As her coronation approaches, a deadly turn of events forces Gruoch to flee Duncan and the capital, finding herself alone, vulnerable and at the mercy of an old enemy. Her hope of becoming Queen all but lost, Gruoch does what she must to survive, vowing that one day she will fulfill her destiny and take up the future owed to her.

Whatever it may take. A suspenseful, sweeping historical epic, Lady MacBethad is the origin story of the woman who inspired one of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters.

Reviews of Lady MacBethad

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

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