I REALLY enjoyed this feminist Lady MacBeth retelling narrated by Sara Vickers. Cutthroat with characters who leap off the page and perfect for fans of books like Fair Rosaline or Hamnet. I couldn't put this one down! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

All in all this was a pretty entertaining take on Lady Macbeth before she became Lady Macbeth. I had some minor issues with the way she acted a couple of times that seemed out of character but for the most part it was well written and kept me invested the whole way through.

The narration is flawless and easy to listen to. Great accents!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance eaudio copy of Queen Hereafter.

The narrator for this book was fantastic and had me engaged from the beginning. This was a very interesting story about the life of Lady Macbeth and how she rose to be by Macbeth's side. Obviously the book was fictional, but I didn't know that she was an actual historical figure, so that was interesting. If you enjoy retellings or origin stories, you would enjoy this audio (or book).

I loved this. I couldn't put it down. I love all things Shakespeare. Isabelle Schuler's book explores Lady Macbeth's origins, her noble birth, pagan roots, love for country, and ambition to become the great queen. Although historical fiction, it provides a more rounded character than Shakespeare's crazed psychopath. The book stars for its well-written, well-researched, and readable portrayal of Lady Macbeth as a beautiful, driven, and tormented girl. It is an intelligent "feminist re-telling" of Shakespeare's Macbeth, and the author wonders if she plans to tackle Ophelia in the future.

Thank you so much to #netgalley for this free listening copy for an honest review. I have recommended it to several friends already.

The narrative successfully navigates the complexities of Gruoch's rivalries and feuds with other noblewomen and men, eschewing one-dimensional portrayals of outright villainy. Instead, it presents characters as obstacles in each other's paths, fostering a rich tapestry of intrigue. Gruoch, the daughter of a deposed king, faces the pivotal choice between a quiet life and a perilous ascent to the throne, especially as her betrothal to Duncan promises the chance to reclaim lost lands. Her journey unfolds against the backdrop of early medieval Scotland, delivering a spellbinding blend of court drama and suspense.

The characters within the narrative are meticulously developed, with Gruoch standing out as a complex figure driven by ambition and ruthlessness, seemingly unstoppable in her pursuit of power. Nevertheless, as the story evolves, one may yearn for a slightly brisker pace.

Queen Hereafter by Isabelle Schuler - Audiobook Version

I knew nothing about this book other than the brief summary going into it. I was a bit nervous when I saw that it was "A stunning literary reclamation of an iconic character, Lady Macbethad is a gripping story of female ambition, power, history, desire, hate, and vengeance set against the backdrop of early medieval Scotland" (book description). She was the inspiration of Shakespeare Lady Macbeth, which I have never read, seen or studied. I almost believe this worked in my favor. It allowed me to read and review this book without comparison to any of the history or retellings of her character.

I was surprised how much I liked this book. I believe it's because it appealed to the Fantasy Reader side of my brain with it's Folklore and to the Historical Fiction side of my brain with the historic setting and tradition. What I wasn't prepared for was the political intrigue, the plot twists, the romance, the complexity of characters this book was packed full of goodness!

The main Character, Gruoch's (Lady Macbeth) makes intentional decisions to make sure that a vision spoken to her at a young age by her beloved Grandmother, comes to fruition. This is the undercurrent throughout the whole story and is what shapes her future, regardless of the cost.

I really enjoyed this book, and am tempted to read the physical copy as well! Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!!!!

Thank you to HarperAudio for this ARC audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This historical fiction paints a vivid backstory of Lady Macbeth's origins - from her pagan roots and childhood to her love of her country and family. Her ambition to become the great queen her grandmother prophesized knows no bounds. She is truly tested as to how bad she wants the crown and what she is willing to give up for it. Isabelle created a well-rounded and enticing character to follow in this story.

This story is enchanting from the very first page. Gruoch, or Lady Macbethad, is a complex character brought to life in the setting of early medieval Scotland. The geography is imagined with great detail. The court drama and politics brings a lot of tension and suspense to the story. The story is a bit slower of a pace than I would normally like, but it brings with it a lot of build up.

We are given a character with a lot of drive whose circumstances shape her character each step of the way. She knows what she wants and isn't afraid of how bold or cruel she needs to be in order to get what she wants. The plot wove real life details that were well-researched into a more imaginative story than what I feel the one dimensional character Shakespeare gives us. I was hooked from the start.

What a fun prequel to the Macbeth drama! Well, not every bit was fun. So many gross characters doing despicable things, but it was good to see them get their due, and though Duncan was alive at the end, it's satisfying to know his fate. I was riveted and stayed up way too late finishing it.