G ruoch, daughter of Boite mac Cináeda, was born around 1015, and her early life is beautifully reimagined in this story which looks at the myths and legends which surrounds the story of Shakespeare's Lady MacBeth. Over the course of the story we get to know Gruoch as a troubled child, forced to flee her homeland, and obsessed with her grandmother's prophecy that one day she would be a great queen, and we watch in anticipation as she sets off on the road to her destiny.

There is much to enjoy in this imagined story about the early life of one of the most controversial figures in English literature and yet historically very little is actually known about the woman who would, one day, become Lady Macbeth. However, the author has done her research well, the ancient way of life is so beautifully described that I could clearly imagine Gruoch growing from rebellious child, to her more fraught teenage years as she struggles with marriage to Duncan, and her obsession that one day she would be Queen of Alba.

This is definitely not Shakespeare's Macbeth reimagined, it so much more than that, and works beautifully as imaginative historical fiction which leads us back in time to the life of a proud and forceful young woman who believed in her destiny and who made her own distinct mark on the history of Scotland.

Have you ever read Macbeth in school and loved the vengeful ambition of the play? I know I certainly enjoyed it but I never really thought about the background and what happened in the past for the Macbeth’s to go from hero to zero. This book pads out so much, it was pure genius. It’s made me want to read Macbeth again just to dig out allusions that I missed! An exciting, raw read and totally original in it’s concept!

I never knew that Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth was based on a real person but, thanks to this book, I do now and want to know more about her.

This book is a masterpiece, the storytelling is beautiful , there is so much detail in the prose showing Scotland of the past as a place of beauty as well as darkness and constant threats, war and battles.

The story starts with Gruoch at a young age – her growing with her family around her. One could argue that this book is somewhat romanesque as Gruoch learns how to find power within so that she is not confined and defined by the men around her. She finds her own way in the world aiming to live up to the prophecy of her Grandmother. She uses men to reach this goal and seeks opportunities where she can as oppose to being a pawn in their narratives.

I found Isabelle Schuler’s storytelling compelling and I appreciated how she depicted the conflict between the pagan traditions and Christianity. Given that the novel is set in the 11th Century, it illustrates how long these traditions remained relevant to those who continued to feel a connection to nature and the land and how some rulers blended pagan with Christian practices to unite their people.

I think this book works both for those Shakespeare aficionados who know the story of Macbeth inside out, and those like me who only know the bare bones.

I found I really struggled to connect with this book. I enjoyed reading about the pagan traditions and Gruoch's upbringing with the commentary on the rise of Christianity. I think my high expectations for this book let it down, it wasn't quite the Lady MacBeth inspired story I had imagined.

Such a great back story, so many Easter eggs to Shakespeare’s original. Thoroughly enjoyed - lots of twists and turns and answered loads of questions. My only question is what happens to Lulach as he doesn’t appear in the play…

very much reads like a book that i have read before. i know that this type of narrative, historical fiction were a female character is finally given her turn to 'speak', to give readers her perspective and so forth, are in...and i guess it comes across as a bit hollow to me. ymmv.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.

Now this is what a Shakespeare spin-off should be!

I loved Groa, she was everything I love about Lady Macbeth. She is ambitious, not afraid to get her hands dirty and knows what she wants! I liked knowing her story from a child through to adulthood. Giving the reader a rich and interesting backstory for LMB.

This is is such contrast to the other Shakespeare spin-off I read fairly recently, Learwife, which was such a disappointment. This book has strong characterisation, solid plot and was a really good read.

Absolutely gorgeous. Exploring the nuances of a character who, in popular culture, can often be remembered as one note - this is a layered portrayal that should be up there with Wide Sargasso Sea in terms of how it humanises, modernises, and explores the beating heart beneath a legendary character

I thought this was going to be one I really enjoyed but unfortunately I just couldn't really get into it. It will be a great read for many, but not for me. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me try & review this book.

A great way of telling the story of lady Macbeth in a modern day read. its not a book i thought i would get into, however i was pleasantly surprised to have enjoyed it.

What an interesting idea, to write about the backstory of one of the most famous female characters Shakespeare has ever written.
Gruoch's character is written perfectly when you think of how she is portrayed in Shakespeare's play and here she appears even more powerful, strong, and skillful in achieving her goals. A power in her own right and she knows it.
The author does well to transport readers to that time and place, and I thoroughly enjoyed the writing.

As an English graduate, who specialised in Renaissance drama, I was intrigued to read this book, about the woman who inspired Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth. I have to say I really couldn’t put it down, and whilst I think the link to Shakespeare’s Macbeth certainly drew me in initially, the book is so much more than that.

I find it hard to believe that this a debut, because it is highly skilled and exquisitely crafted, is also perfectly display the ambition, drive and determination of Gruoch (Groa).

I have bought the very beautiful independent bookshop edition of this book and am thrilled to have it on my shelves.

A must read in my opinion.

I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to! Imagining the “back story” of Lady M from the Scottish play, this story is set in an old, wild Scotland full of superstition clashing with modern beliefs. LadyM is a rounded, sympathetically developed character, but with plenty of the ambition for power we expect.

Lady Macbethad by Isabelle Schuler

Gruoch has druid blood running through her veins. She is the daughter of a King, although her father has been ousted, and it is her prophecy from her beloved druid grandmother that she is destined to be queen of Alba and Gruoch will do anything to ensure this prophecy comes true.
Although her heart has desires for Macbeth, she is betrothed to Duncan, the heir elect. This betrothal which will enable her to fulfil her destiny however life at Duncan’s court comes with difficulties as she is treated coldly as there are other women who would do anything to be in their position. As her Coronation approaches, another turn of events puts a dagger into her plans, forcing her to flee for her life and leaving her crown to fade further into the abyss. Gruoch must fight to survive and she will do anything to fulfil her destiny, no one will get in her way.

I loved this book. Macbeth is my favourite Shakespeare play. I had a fantastic English teacher who encouraged us to think outside the box and whilst we were reading Macbeth, we turned it into a police interview project inspired by The Bill - Who is old enough to remember watching that iconic BBC series? - Around this time I was also studying for my Lamda Speech and Drama grade 3 or maybe 4 (I think) exam where I recited The Song of the Witches. So, this was a book I had to read and it did not disappoint. The pace is perfect, it had me turning page after page and only putting it down reluctantly for work and sleep. I was captivated. Gruoch is certainly a determined character who lets nothing stop her from getting what she wants. Although I loved her, I don’t think I’d want to cross paths with her!
This is a perfect book for historical fiction lovers and anyone who appreciates a reimagining of historical characters and of course Shakespeare's Macbeth.

I'm not the biggest fan of Shakespeare but do like historic novel and this one didn't disappoint. The story telling kept you reading and seeing how the different alliances were made was great. It gives the back story to Lady Macbeth and what made her the woman she was and did make me think more about Shakespeare's Macbeth and how those characters interacted.

Will read more from this author.

I very much enjoyed this tale of the early life of Lady Macbeth. i enjoyed reading about the fading of old religions and the coming of the new Christianity to Scotland and how they intermingled. the lifeof a young lady was very well depicted - how little control she had of her own life and fortune. Macbeth is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays and this gave me an interesting backdrop to that drama. This book is well worth reading.

An interesting take on a familiar story. I wasn't aware this was a prequel and kept waiting for the more well known aspects of Shakespeare's play to begin, but the book stops just before that starts.
I think if you know this is the story of Gruoch before she marries Macbeth and becomes queen then its a more comfortable read.
The majority takes place during her younger life so is quite domestic and after she is betrothed to the insipid Duncan she lives usually quite alone in an abbey so there is not too much action, the middle of the book is really quite slow. Also the internal monologue of Gruoch is quite dull and repetitive.
But I do like the idea of giving voice to the female characters usually sidelined in major historical works so pleased to have read the book, even if maybe Gruoch's story isn't too exciting.

Thank you NetGalley and Raven Books for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was brilliantly and cleverly written. The empathy you formed for Lady Macbethad did affect how you viewed Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” - maybe there was a reason for why she acted the way she did. The plot was addictive, with a perfect medium pace and likeable characters. Additionally, the emotions portrayed felt so genuine and I wish I could’ve read more of the book. This is definitely one of my favourite reads so far this year.

“When shall we meet again?
In thunder, lightning or in rain?”

So begins Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the play so infamous that actors fear to speak its name. Its lines have infiltrated modern English, its depictions of witches inspiring many a depiction of the female sorceress. But the standout character of the play was not any of the witches, nor was it Macbeth himself. That spot is reserved for Lady Macbeth.

This was why I was intrigued by Lady Macbethad, which was marketed as a novel that retells the story of the real life model for Lady Macbeth: Gruoch. A quick Google search revealed that Gruoch was indeed a real person, and she did in fact marry a man called Macbethad, who became a King of Scotland. What is also clear from the background reading I did after I finished the novel is that Schuler did her research for this book. Many of the characters are based on real people from the annals, real family ties, real conflicts.
There were many things I loved about this book. I was really vibing with it in the beginning, especially with the incorporation of the pagan traditions that came before Christianity and the tension between the two practices, and the use of Scots Gaelic. I’m a bit biased in that regard, I love books that incorporate the language, stories and magic of their place of origin. The writing is also gorgeous; the visuals were vivid, at points brutally so.

I will admit that I did not receive what I thought I would receive with this story, however. While it did begin as a fictionalised account of Gruoch’s life, it soon became more of a semi-feminist origin story for the character from Shakespeare’s play. The ending in particular wraps in such a way that it would lend itself quite naturally to being a prequel for all the events that play out in Macbeth. In this way, I thought it was well-planned. I was a bit disappointed that I did not receive a story that was more separate from the play but it was still enjoyable.

Gruoch was not my favourite character. She is based on the blueprint Lady Macbeth laid down - she is scheming, paranoid and violent - though the reasons she developed into this character were interesting to discover along the way. My favourite character ended up being Macbethad, who was one of the more balanced characters. The fact that he stood out in the book that was about her, and she stood out in the play about him, is an irony that is not lost on me.

Was this book my favourite? No, but I think I went in expecting something different so that coloured my judgement. There are enough good elements in here that I would recommend it to an interested party though.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I was absolutely drawn into this story from start to finish. Acting as sort of a prequel to the events of Macbeth, the book explores the early life of Lady MacBethad, based presumably more on the Scottish historical documents rather than the Shakespeare play. However there are some interesting allusions to the play such as an 'out damn spot' moment. The book is really about power and what women have to do (and sacrifice) to gain it from men. A must read for anyone who loves the current trend for feminist retellings of male-led stories.