'Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it.'

Although I've encouraged my students over the last 22 years of teaching Shakespeare to analyse this quote, I never thought it might link to Lady Macbeth's back story! What a brilliant read by author Isabelle Schuler. Lady Macbethad - or Gruoch (Groa to her Picti family) grows up as the daughter of a failed king, in the shadow of King Macolm. Her mother's pagan family are at odds with the new religion of Scotland and so her beloved grandmother's influence is limited to one week a year as her father tries to ingratiate himself to the new rulers in exchange for being able to rule his land in peace.
During one key moment, her grandmother prophesies that Gruoch will be immortalised far beyond any of her family and she takes this as her vision to live out the rest of her life.

Packed with action, intrigue, romance, backstabbing and conflicting loyalties, the atmospheric backdrop of medieval Scotland comes to life and had me considering points of view I'd never thought of over the many years of studying and teaching Macbeth! The book ends before the play begins and sets up brilliantly the well known events of Shakespeare's murderous heroine.

I loved this book and will definitely encourage students to read it, especially for considering the fact that there are many sides to any story! Many events in the novel echo moments in the play, but even for those not familiar with Shakespeare's work this story stands as a true work of art on its own.

Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read this because I've always been curious about Macbeth and his wife. I "studied" Shakespeare's Macbeth for O Levels but was never particularly blown away by the story until someone told me Macbeth was a real person.

In this book Isabelle Schuler looks into Lady Macbethad's origins. Her noble birth, her pagan roots, her love of country and family and her unceasing ambition to become the great queen she knew she could be. Obviously this is historical fiction so a lot is imagined but at least Ms Schuler gives us a more rounded character than the crazed psychopath that Will Shakespeare left us with.

It's interesting, well written, well researched and extremely readable. We see Gruoch (Lady Macbeth) as a beautiful, driven, tormented girl whose circumstances shape her character. Certainly life in a ruling family back in the day was very precarious with land being given and taken at the whim of the strongest leader. You had to be wary who you made your alliances with and how forthright you could be lest you found your fortress burned around you as you slept.

It's obvious from the star rating that I enjoyed this but it is certainly one of the most intelligent "feminist re-tellings" that I've read (and I sincerely dislike that genre description). I wonder if Isabelle Schuler fancies tackling Ophelia at some point in the future?

What a fantastic story Isabelle Schuler has created around the girl, Gruoch, Picti princess, who later became Lady MacBethad. Gruoch is treated throughout her young life as a piece of property to be traded into marriage to the man who presents the best alliance for the king. Potential husbands have more say in the matter and she is passed to and fro. However Gruoch is proud, strong, skilful and determined and eventually manages to carve out the life that she wants for herself. This story ends when she marries her childhood best friend, MacBethad. I do hope that there is more to come about the MacBethads from Isabelle Schuler. I loved the revelation of the witches' chantings from the Shakespeare play as a Gaelic song. The characters in the story were all well brought to life by Schuler and all revealed to have many facets to their character. Highly recommended and worth a second read. Thank you to the publishers via Net Galley for a complimentary ARC of this title in return for an honest review.

A great idea to give the back story of Lady Macbeth - as a bonus.I learnt a lot about the history of Scotland at this period.

An excellent book, kept me totally enthralled but I was sad that it finished so soon. I can’t wait to read what happens in the future to Lady MacBethad

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5131446274

I've got slightly bored of the current fad for 'retellings' recently after one too many Greek myth-based novels, but this one was a pleasant surprise. It's basically the origin story of Lady MacBeth - finishing at the point she gets married - and made for a great read. She's a really compelling character, and because the book doesn't cover the same ground as the Shakespeare play, I didn't have any sense of 'what's the point of reading this because I know how it will end'. Definitely one I'd recommend, and in fact if the author ever did produce a sequel covering the stuff that happens in the play, I would read it in order to spend more time with these characters.

Thanks to her, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Lady MacBethad by Isabelle Schuler

A wonderful story told in a different way ( and refreshing take ) of Shakespeare 's much loved story.
An interesting take on historical fact . It kept me reading over a few days and I think it would be perfect for a film . I can almost imagine certain actors playing the roles.

Full of intrigue, passion, life and death the characters in this book are so clearly defined that the narrative had me gripped from the first few pages. Gruoch is determined to fulfil her grandmother's prophecy and take what she sees as her rightful place as queen. But events seem destined to to thwart her ambition as Gruoch faces life threatening challenges.

'Lady MacBethad' is a very enjoyable and interesting origin story for Lady MacBeth. I was completely immersed in the world and character and wanted to know more about Gruoch. The plot is captivating and kept my interest and I did not want it to end. This is a brilliantly dark read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for an advance copy.

A different take to Shakespeare Macbeth. This was written well and was great to see another side to the Lady Macbeth. Definitely a read for avid Shakespearean lovers.

Lady MacBethad
Having been a fan of the Scottish play since studying it for O level, and seeing it performed at Stratford, the character of Lady M has fascinated me. I therefore devoured this novel by Isabelle Schuler with delight, and found the story she has created most compelling.

I love the way Lady Macbethad’s early life story is so imaginatively yet believably conveyed, a strong female character of determination, persistence, bravery and resilience, with a ruthlessness that allows for the future unfolding to be almost inevitable. She survive as heroine in the men’s world of deceit, betrayal, jealousy, love and loss with courage and cleverness, portrayed with vivid imagery that transports the reader throughout this epic tale.

I couldn’t stop reading, yet was paradoxically sad to reach the end; I highly recommend Isabelle Schuler’s Lady Macbethad.

I teach Shakespeare’s Macbeth every year to high school students, so I was very keen to read this semi-historical account of the rise of his ambitious wife. Of course, there is very little hard evidence of the events from so long ago, but it was fascinating to read about the enigmatic Gruoch’s beginnings. Certainly, it may be said that Shakespeare did a disservice to Lady Macbeth on a par with the shellacking he gave Richard III in the name of dramatic entertainment!

Shakespeare has Duncan pegged as a wise and beloved ruler of long-standing and Macbeth as a manipulated, upstart usurper. In fact, there is some likelihood that the opposite was true. Duncan ruled for only six years and Macbeth for 17, a reign which was peaceful. Furthermore, Duncan was killed in battle and not as a guest of the ‘murderous Macbeth’s’ while he slept, as Shakespeare would have it.

The book was well paced, and while little effort is made to paint Gruoch as likeable, it was an engaging and exciting portrayal of a harsh and uncertain time for women. I will definitely be incorporating what I’ve learned from this book as context for the study of the play.

Lady Macbeth is a character so famous that people hear about it all the time, its has become a part of pop culture and a description of darkness. But who was she before?

I really enjoyed this book, its a prequel to the Shakespear play but i love reading about how a life could have been shaped. The weaving of what historical facts we know around this time and the storytelling was on point. I certainly lost myself in this book for a few days and it would have been a day if life didn't keep interrupting.

A book well worth the read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Her grandmother,descended from the ancient druids, called her Groa but her father named her Gruoch! Her father, the Alban Prince Boedhe is made the Mormaer of Fife by King Malcolm. Groa’s grandmother prophesied greatness for her granddaughter, ‘look like the innocent flower but be the serpent underneath!’ so Gruoch spends her life doing just this! Taken to their allies in the North, to Burghead, the land of Moray, to live their with her father’s close friend Findlaich, she encounters his son Macbethad. Macbethad tells her his cousin Duncan is to be King and has been betrothed to a Northumbrian Princess. Gruoch, caught up in her own drama declares that she will kill her. She is convinced she will one day be queen. Macbethad believes her and gifts her a dagger he makes especially for her and so their lives are forever entwined! It’s a fascinating story and told in great depth, sometimes a little confusing but always making me turn to the next page. I would like a sequel - perhaps tomorrow!

Really enjoyed getting to know Lady McBethad, this is a really great twist on the tale. Thank you so much for the ARC.

A gorgeously written retelling from medieval Scotland weaving together love, lust, power and reciprocity. A real delight. Thank you for the copy, and I look forward to recommending it in store.

I didn’t realise that Groa was the origin for Lady McBeth at the start and reading the book, I soon realised the similarities, Brigid who is the female patron saint of Ireland who symbolises Spring is derived from Pagan folklore and it was interesting to see how revered She was by her followers. I would like to thank the publishers for inviting me to read this and would have no problem in recommending it.

When I was younger, the only Shakespeare play I remember enjoying was MacBeth - The Scottish Play. I can't even remember why, I just know that I enjoyed it and if anyone ever asked me what my favourite was - this would be my answer.
So, as is typical of subjects that pique your interest as a child, MacBeth has long since been one of those stories that I've veered towards whenever it's come about.

So that is how I found myself with an ARC copy of Lady Macbethad by Isabelle Schuler. I will be completely transparent and say that this sat on my list for a little while - about 4-5 weeks. Normally, I've been diving straight into my ARCs but I held back slightly on this one. I wasn't sure I was ready for a story of complex historic language that would require learning new words.

But I needn't have worried.

If you've seen the synopsis for this book, you'll know that this is focussed on the life of Lady MacBeth, and the events that lead to the infamous Scottish Play. And from my memory of the original text, Schuler did a fantastic job of bringing the motivations and ambition of our main character to the forefont.

Gruoch is everything you'd want a strong female character to be - ambitious, focussed and fair. Her fierce protectiveness of those she cares about and loves is clear, whilst exploring the complexities of caring for those that perhaps doubt her or disagree.

I love this book so much and I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy when it's released in March this year.

And I really want Schuler to write an updated version of the play we know and love.

Lady MacBethad, by Isabelle Schuler
Published: 2nd March 2023
Lady MacBethad is a powerful retelling of Shakespeare’s, Macbeth, but with a sharp focus on Lady Macbeth(ad.) It is beautifully written. The prose sings from the page, and Schuler’s descriptions of Scotland are mesmerising. We find Lady MacBethad as a child, raised by a Druid mother and a Christian father, and torn between love for both of them. I loved reading her encounters with her Druid grandmother, who spoke great prophecies about her future, and I was swept along by her story. The portrayal of Gruadh/Lady MacBethad is one that I have never come across before. I loved Schuler’s description of her ever-growing ambition, but also her humility. She is not the villainous and manipulative creature that we have encountered in other versions of this story. Instead, she is a survivor, who cares deeply for her people and traditions. This novel is bold and brutal, and a real triumph. I love Schuler’s vision, and look forward to reading more of her work.

I found this a strange and atmospheric story. I enjoyed it, but want to read it again as I think I’ll get more enjoyment second time round.