A wondrous tale of subterfuge, courage, and resolve set among Kings and Queens, war and passion in eleventh century Scotland. The extremely talented Val McDermid is the latest author to step into Polygon’s series of Darkland Tales, celebrating moments in Scottish history or legend with the most entertaining of stories. Shakespeare's Macbeth is not historically accurate so I suggest you leave any thoughts from the play to one side. Queen Macbeth celebrates Gruoch, married to King Macbeth and on the run from men who see her as a pawn in their fight for the throne. In reality little is known of Gruoch, which gives Val McDermid’s imagination free rein. This story weaves between the meeting of Macbeth and Gruoch and the latter years of their rule, setting the scene for their reign and creating the most interesting of snapshots as she fights for survival while being hunted. The strength of women sits as a vibrant thread running through this novella. There is an immense sense of place with medieval Scotland standing proud, the detailing of clothing, food, and weapons all adding to the vivid picture that is formed. This is a series that we highly recommend, and Queen Macbeth joins as an intense and fascinating tale in its own fabulous right.
Shakespeare fed us the myth of the Macbeths as murderous conspirators. But now Val McDermid drags the truth out of the shadows, exposing the patriarchal prejudices of history. Expect the unexpected . . .
A thousand years ago in an ancient Scottish landscape, a woman is on the run with her three companions – a healer, a weaver and a seer. The men hunting her will kill her – because she is the only one who stands between them and their violent ambition. She is no lady: she is the first queen of Scotland, married to a king called Macbeth.
As the net closes in, we discover a tale of passion, forced marriage, bloody massacre and the harsh realities of medieval Scotland. At the heart of it is one strong, charismatic woman, who survived loss and jeopardy to outwit the endless plotting of a string of ruthless and power-hungry men. Her struggle won her a country. But now it could cost her life.
'Among the most exciting series of books of recent years' - SNACK Magazine
Author
About Val McDermid
Val McDermid is a number one bestselling author whose novels have been translated into more than forty languages and have sold over nineteen million copies. She has won many awards, including the CWA Gold Dagger, the LA Times Book of the Year Award and the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award for outstanding achievement. Val writes full-time and divides her time between Edinburgh and East Neuk of Fife.
