The Fire of Winter

Fans of Outlander, gird your loins; you're about to go for a wild ride. The main character is bloodthirsty, and her slow burn spiral into insanity is truly riveting. I couldn't put this book down, my stomach clenched in knots. You won't regret this read.

This book was an interesting re-interpretation of Macbeth, which is not a typical choice for a Shakespeare re-telling. Gruah, or Lady Macbeth, was a compelling character both in the original Shakespeare play and in this book. Her motivations were well-explained and believable, and her downwards spiral was portrayed realistically and sympathetically. As far as the backstory and family lines, some of the explanations in the beginning of the book were a little confusing and hard to follow--some refreshers throughout the story of who is related to whom and with what implications for tanistry and inheritances would have been helpful.

D.K. Marley did a wonderful job establishing the setting of 11th century Scotland. I especially enjoyed the look into England's history, with Edward the Confessor and how William and the Conqueror's reign was set up. The shift from paganism to Christianity was interesting to see, as was the shift from tanistry to direct inheritance. The tension between the thanes was reflective of the times and accurately done.

My favorite element of this re-telling may have been Hecate and the three witches (Sorcha, Fiona, and Alana). The three witches are one of the most interesting aspects of the original play, and the backstory and arc they were given were incredible and contributed to Gruah's own development.

As far as fidelity to the original, I thought D.K. Marley did an outstanding job of including all the iconic portions of the play (Malcom's "O? By whom?", the conversation with Ross, Oengus, and the old man, the storming of MacDubh's castle, Malcom's vice speech to MacDubh, "out, out damned spot," Macbeth's soliloquy after Lady Macbeth's death, etc.), even when Lady Macbeth was not present in the original. These sections felt natural and not contrived, and were great nods to the original play.

The writing style was a bit overdone in places, but overall, it was easy to read. I loved the twist at the end, and the ending portion, especially the last line, gave me chills. I just felt that the story dragged a bit and did not have to go on for 32 chapters.

A fractured Shakespearean tale of Lady Macbeth. A fascinating and creative look into the mind of one of literature's most enigmatic villains.
Gruah is lead by ambition and the need for revenge. But learns that neither is fulfilling at the end. The tale starts when Gruah is about 18 years old. Flashbacks give us information about her formative years. And the story ends when she is 70. I appreciated the family tree at the beginning since it allowed me to understand the complex familial relationships that form the foundation to the story.
I liked the author's take on witches and witchcraft. I was left with no clear answer to the question whether the prophecy gave birth to rumour which allowed the prophecy to be fulfilled... and whether the three women actually were witches or not.
A lot of research into Scottish history and culture was evident and made the tale believable.
Overall, a very good read.

The very first sentence creates a special place for Gruah in our hearts. Ms Marley brings the Shakespearean Lady Macbeth to life and details her circumstances.

Thanks Ms. Marley for writing Lady Macbeth’s side of the story – about Lady Macbeth’s behaviour and her subsequent demonisation.

Gruah’s love for her motherland propels her to a pedestal amongst men who fought either for the fortunes or for their personal honour.

The plot is strong, characters stronger and dialogues powerful. The is pace perfect, but the long sermons drag the book down by half a point.

Apart from other historical elements, the author uses the witch-burning metaphor brilliantly to illustrate Christianity’s impact on womenfolk: common and noble. Also, the map of Scotland as well as the Clann Alpin family are very useful.

Thanks NetGalley and Ms Marley for the book. This is an honest review.
P.S.: This book contains child abuse, explicit language and violence.

An interesting approach to Shakespeare’s Macbeth as told from the perspective of Lady Macbeth. A refreshing look at this tragic tale of a powerful woman and what drives her. Highly recommended.

I really enjoy the story that tell the stories about famous side characters in famous stories. This was a great read and found it to be a wild ride that was a lot of fun and worked for the time period.