2024 CWA Historical Dagger (longlist)
2024 Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award (shortlist)
“A bruising tale of passion, ambition, power, vengeance, and desire . . . a stunning retelling.��� —Entertainment Weekly, Most Anticipated Books of Fall
“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, bestselling author of Ariadne and Elektra
An instant international bestseller: a suspenseful, sweeping historical epic for readers of Natalie Haynes and Madeline Miller, which boldly reimagines the origin story of the woman who inspired one of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters, Lady Macbeth.
She will be Queen. Whatever it takes . . .
Daughter of an ousted king, descendant of ancient druids, Gruoch (GREW-ock), has grown up believing that she will be crowned queen of Alba and reclaim the lands of her Pictish kin, a prophecy seemingly fulfilled by her betrothal to Duncan, the heir-elect.
Determined never to be powerless again, 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 Duncan’s court is rife 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. Alone and at the mercy of an old enemy, her hope of becoming Queen all but lost, Gruoch must make a fateful choice: live a long, quiet life in the shadows, or seize vengeance and a path back to the throne.
A stunning literary reclamation of an iconic character, Queen Hereafter is a gripping story of female ambition, power, history, desire, hate, and vengeance set against the backdrop of early medieval Scotland.
Genre: Historical
“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, bestselling author of Ariadne and Elektra
An instant international bestseller: a suspenseful, sweeping historical epic for readers of Natalie Haynes and Madeline Miller, which boldly reimagines the origin story of the woman who inspired one of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters, Lady Macbeth.
She will be Queen. Whatever it takes . . .
Daughter of an ousted king, descendant of ancient druids, Gruoch (GREW-ock), has grown up believing that she will be crowned queen of Alba and reclaim the lands of her Pictish kin, a prophecy seemingly fulfilled by her betrothal to Duncan, the heir-elect.
Determined never to be powerless again, 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 Duncan’s court is rife 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. Alone and at the mercy of an old enemy, her hope of becoming Queen all but lost, Gruoch must make a fateful choice: live a long, quiet life in the shadows, or seize vengeance and a path back to the throne.
A stunning literary reclamation of an iconic character, Queen Hereafter is a gripping story of female ambition, power, history, desire, hate, and vengeance set against the backdrop of early medieval Scotland.
Genre: Historical
Praise for this book
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
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