I absolutely loved this book - much to my surprise. Like many people I imagine I've studied Macbeth at school and have watched Shakespeare's play at the theatre. What I knew of Lady Macbeth(ad) prior to this book, therefore, was very much drawn from Shakespeare's perspective. I wasn't aware that Macbeth was a real king, or that he actually had a wife, named Gruoch until I came to read this book and read some of the reviews relating to it. To what extent the story in this book is accurate I don't know but I personally thought this was incredibly well-written - running from early childhood to Gruoch's marriage to Macbeth, it was a compelling read - I wanted to know what happened to her, how her earlier life played out, how the complex interactions between different members of Scottish 'royalty' would resolve themselves and how she finally became Lady Macbeth. The idea that she herself was the daughter of a pagan/witch and could recite the same poem/song that the three wyrd sisters speak at the start of Macbeth appealed to me. This and other references which linked to Shakespeare's Macbeth also really appealed to me and I thought made the book all the stronger. It may not be accurate (and that really didn't bother me) but it was a great story.

I picked this one up one evening when I couldn’t sleep and it did not help! I was immediately gripped by the story and flew through the first half of the book in one go.

It’s a great premise - the origin story of Lady MacBeth - and it’s really well done.

We meet Gruoch (later to become Lady MacBethad) as a young girl living in Fife. A pictish princess, her grandmother prophesises she will one day become Queen of Alba.

She takes this prohesy seriously and from a young age she is driven to succeed in this aim and restore her family glory. It’s certainly not an easy task as she has to walk a tightrope between her pictish heritage and the new christian religion and negotiate the ever changing politics of medieval Scotland.

A woman in a man's world she is unapologetic about her ambition. but she also comes across as a multifaceted character. Her ruthlessness sits alongside the way she cares for her family and the people of Burghead and I found it refreshing that she was portrayed as more than just a power crazed woman.

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 really enjoyed being immersed in early Scotland, the landscape, the power struggles and the fight to survive.

My only criticism of this book was that it had to end.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury for the chance to read an early copy

The play Macbeth has been studied at GCSE and A level widely, including by me at both levels, so it must be one of the most well known Shakespeare works. This makes this imagining of the early life of Lady Macbeth, here named Gruoch, and her future husband, MacBethad, an intriguing prospect. Gruoch is a Picti princess with strong royal connections, and when her grandmother, who lives in exile after Christianity has replaced her Druidic beliefs in society, prophesises that Gruoch will become a Queen more powerful than anyone, Gruoch makes this her mission. Warring sections of the kingdom mean danger is never far away and everything can be lost in a heartbeat, with treachery and betrayal around every corner, but Gruoch is determined to fulfil her destiny. A stirring portrayal of ancient life, full of conspiracies, violence and dramatic twists of fate with echoes of Game of Thrones, this is a fast-paced romp with some interesting ideas of what made the Bard’s Lady Macbeth become the ruthless and manipulative woman who encourages the murder of the King, although here she is at the centre of the story and this Duncan is both her contemporary and of rather dubious character. The book ends a long time before the beginning of the play, so it leaves the reader longing to know what will happen in the intervening years, calling out for a sequel- I hope this is part of Isabelle Schuler’s plan!

I loved reading from Lady Macbeth’s perspective. 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…

Thanks to NetGalley for a proof copy. Reading this made my Christmas much more enjoyable!

Gruoch is a character that will stay with me for a long, long time. I'm a sucker for history's 'misunderstood' women and adored this deep dive into her live and ambitions. A brilliant novel.

Lady Macbethad tells the story of Gruoch before the infamous play and her pursuit in becoming Queen. The book introduces various characters you will know from the play, getting to meet Duncan and Macbethad (Macbeth) as young men, both growing up desiring Gruoch.

Gruoch is brilliantly and beautifully written, she’s unapologetic in her ambition, she refuses to yield or beg and answer to a man. Even if you don’t agree with her actions, you can’t help but admire her determination to not show weakness, to hold her head high and find a way to win in a world that uses women as a resource and currency. Gruoch is aware that a woman’s power is but a shadow of a man’s power, it can be taken away with him, and so she uses men as they would use her, as stepping stones to her destination. Gruoch is an extraordinary creation, a character given life and depth long deserved, and it’s fascinating being in her mind.

My only criticism is that the book ended, I so badly wanted to read more of Gruoch’s scheming and plotting. I need Schuler to adapt the Macbeth play itself please.

Thank you NetGalley for the early review copy one exchange for an honest review. The moment I finished this book I had to preorder my own copy!

An interesting historical read with the Pictish pagans being overwhelmed by the new wave of the Christian religion....Grou is born to a druid mother and is convinced by her grandmother that one day she will be Queen. Using every skill she has learned as a child growing alongside her young friend McBethad her fate takes her on a torturous path in a world where to be a woman is to be powerless. Her goal shimmers tantalisingly close and her choices in turn bring her fear, loveless marriage, almost certain destitution, abandonment and reunion. A world of the padt where each day could bring fortune or death.....I really enjoyed this book.

As someone who has taught Macbeth for more years than I care to admit I was a little nervous to read this wondering how I would feel about it. I should not have worried this story is a wonderful reimagining of Lady Macbeth which stays very true to her character while filling in a very empty back story. The plot is well placed with excellent characters. I really enjoyed this read.

How to fully give credit to the magnificent of this work? Who gave her the right to write a book as fabulous as this?

I know I’m not alone amongst bibliophiles, especially British bibliophiles, in adoring Shakespeare, and there’s always a slight worry when someone tries to adapt a play, or expand on what Shakespeare wrote, or didn’t write. And this book caused the same worry. But I needn’t have worried. It’s so good that I’m almost sad that I’ve finished it.

I haven’t read Macbeth in a long time, and so I can’t remember how much of this is true to the play, or how much is true to the real story of the real Macbeth, but it seemed so natural that I felt it could only be true.

It is such an adventure from start to finish. Full of twists and turns and shocks, full of love and lust, murder and power, heroes and villains.

Everything is described so sumptuously. The food, the clothing, the battles, the looks between two people. It’s all gorgeous. There isn’t a wasted word in it.

Gruoch is a lovely main character. I didn’t know much about Macbeth’s wife, apart from the little you get from the Shakespeare play, so it was great to see her in this light. She does what she needs to do to survive but she never backs down from the power she was born with. We’re generally not told of these women’s achievements in history. They’re there to support the men. This book flips that on its head. We see the power that Gruoch holds against some of the most powerful men in the land, and whilst she’s often in danger, you never feel concerned for her safety. She is stronger than most give her credit for.

There are other really well written characters - even if they’re not the nicest of characters - such as Macbethad, Gillecomghain, Duncan, Adair, Sinna, Ardith, Donalda, Bethoc…they are all excellent people for Gruoch to work off of, but she steals every single scene.

I love these stories of strong women. They’re not like women today, who may be called bossy or difficult if they speak up. If they spoke up, they risk physical injury, rape, banishment or death. And yet they still did it. Because it was the right thing to do. And that’s very powerful.

Men were often expected to have ambition, to kill whoever stood between them and their goal (in this case, the crown). But as soon as a woman expresses the same desire, it’s shut down. And I love Gruoch for holding on to the dream and doing what she can to ensure she achieves it.

I must say, I did spend a lot of the time figuring out how to pronounce Macbethad, and Gruoch to be honest. My brain often called her Grouch, but then all I could picture was Sesame Street. But this led to a lot of Googling and researching the real Macbeth. It may be a fictional book but it’s a great starting point for further reading.

I read it in one sitting. I would love to see her adapt more historical figures, Shakespeare or otherwise. She’s managed to get this great balance between detailed enough to entertain those knowledgeable, and with enough basics so those who don’t know Shakespeare can follow and enjoy.

I’m generally not a huge fan of feminist retellings, as I often think authors are throwing it in just to tick boxes. Some stories just don’t work that way. It takes someone special to manage to keep the authenticity of the story, whilst focusing on a female character, and to give it what it’s due, and Isabelle is one of them.

My advanced copy was a digital copy, but the physical book looks so beautiful I may have to buy it just to have it sit on my shelf and be looked at.

I was gripped by this book from start to finish. What an incredibly visceral, alive novel. The backstory of Lady Macbeth laid bare with one of the most interesting, complex and captivating protagonists I’ve ever come across. Adored it!

Set in old Britain in the days when Christianity was new and the old ways still of value. This is a story of a passionate, angry, proud princess fighting for what she believes is her destiny. Mistakes are made and trust is broken, however she is determined to succeed at all cost. Can there be room for love as well as ambition for her? Nicely captures the politics and feel of the times

Told in the first person narrative, this is our anti heroine’s story of a youthful and determined girl who is bent on fulfilling her grandmother’s prophecy of survival and power. Shakespeare has given us a spoiler in his account in the Scottish play, although we are wary of his version of history, after his defamation of Richard 111, brought to light in recent times. They are murderous times, and it is a wonder that any young woman could have chosen her future, and taken charge of her fate. Some episodes defy belief, but this is an imagined history, and many things we cannot know. Still it has inspired me to find out more about her, and you can’t ask for more than that of historical fiction. It is well written and I can only imagine that the author has done her research well.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

From the beginning to the end, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Great plot. Fast paced. Groa (Lady Macbethad) is a complex character that I immediately sided with for her tenacity and single-minded ambition. I read this over two days and it haunted my dreams at night.

The pagan history created a mystical atmosphere that set the scene and created intrigue.

It possibly could have been better researched in places and maybe the writing could be slightly more literary or even more carefully edited but I was utterly captivated. I teach 'Macbeth' and have done for many years, all the more reason I enjoyed this so much I think. I would happily see it on this year's Women's Prize.

First book of 2023 - and what a great one it was!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Lady Macbethad.

As an English teacher, I’ve read Macbeth so many times – I’ve delivered lessons about the plot, characters and themes, helped pupils to write essays, and can probably recall more quotations than is really healthy. One thing that I’ve never done is to question the main characters’ back stories.

I remember finding a book of published essays about Shakespeare’s characters when I was studying English Literature at University, and finding a whole dissertation devoted to the question of how many children Lady Macbeth actually had. The author had forensically picked apart every last ‘clue’ in Shakespeare’s play, in order to work out just how many babes she had ‘given suck’ to and indeed whether she had been violent towards any of them. No need!

Lady Macbeth was not simply a product of the bard’s imagination but a real person who lived in medieval Scotland. The most dramatic incident in her life, her husband’s murder of a king, has indeed been recreated on stage for the past 450 years, with so many famous actors treading the boards in Lady Macbeth’s shoes. So is there any point in this latest novel? Is there really any story left to tell?

‘Lady Macbethad’ is an imaginative exploration of the protagonist’s backstory in which we discover her motivations and the events that shaped her ambitions. Painfully researched and with plenty of ‘Easter eggs’ for those who know Shakespeare’s play well, I found it to be a thought-provoking feminist recentering of the famous tale. Personally, I really enjoyed the depiction of Gruoch’s Pict ancestry and its beliefs (something that I knew little about) as well as her desperation to protect her son which led to the development of her infamous ruthless and ambitious streak.

Fans of Shakespeare are bound to enjoy this book, but I’d also recommend it as an interesting read for those who are less familiar with the play – as a stand-alone novel, it is a fine piece of historical fiction, so don’t be put off if you can’t recite huge chunks of the play as your party piece. I look forward to seeing what else Isabelle Schuler will write – this is certainly a strong start!

I loved this book from beginning to end it is a well written and very enjoyable book. I found yhat the prose flowed beautifully.
I have read other books about lady macbeth this one is probably the most enjoyable.
Perfect for fans of historical fiction especially Elizabeth Chadwick.

Gruoch (Groa) is a Picti princess and when she is a child her Druid grandmother predicts a bright future for her. One day she will be Queen of Alba. However, it comes with a warning. She must do everything she can to survive.
Following her mother’s death she is sent away from home to live with her aunt and uncle and their son McBethad. After living happily with them for a few years, she becomes betrothed to Duncan, McBethad’s cousin who is heir apparent to the throne of Scotland. It appears to Gruoch that her grandmother’s prophecy is going to come true and she moves to Duncan’s court to accept her destiny.
Sadly, there is much intrigue and conspiracy at court and Gruoch feels very alone. Who can she trust?
I wasn’t familiar with the story of Lady MacBethad or the part that she played in Scottish history but this book has made me want to find out more.
There is a short sequence where I think there is some confusion between her son and her brother but I’m sure that will have been picked up in the final proof read.
Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’m ashamed to say I have never read Macbeth though I did have a vague idea of the story. This novel tells the story of Lady Macbeth from her childhood up until the point of her marriage to Macbeth. To this end the events do not overlap but instead gives background to the play. I would certainly recommend this book.

If you’re looking for a well-paced read based in ancient Scotland about a woman’s ambitions to be Queen of Alba, then look no further: Isabelle Schuler has built a fantastic and gripping story about one of Scotland’s most infamous queens.

The story was a little slow to begin with, but did pick up pace after the first third of the book. Looking back, it definitely helped to have all of the backstory laid out to you at the beginning, but I only really started taking Gruoch seriously once she had been betrothed to Duncan.

Gruoch is a very likeable character, and I found myself constantly rooting for her throughout the book. Between her, Macbethad, and Sinna, I found it tough to nail down who my favourite character was, although I’m leaning mostly towards the last as so little is remembered or written about the servants to great historical figures. I enjoyed the female friendships that Gruoch built, as odd and unbalanced in power they may have been.

Considering Gruoch was a real person, I think Schuler has done a fantastic job of building on the character Shakespeare wrote her to be, but creating a unique portrayal that stands alone very well; you don’t need to know the story of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, nor do you need to have a deep understanding of Scotland’s ancient history to appreciate this story. I would definitely recommend and I can see myself picking up a copy in order to come back to this book again.

I enjoyed this from start to finish. What a fascinating story and full of detail about Scotland at that time. Beautifully written and a well imagined telling of Lady Macbeth from her point of view.

An excellent retelling of Lady Macbeth. A thoroughly enjoyable and interesting read which I would definitely recommend.