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The young woman stood before the group of soldiers and her accusers, her head down, her wrists tied roughly with rope. She stared at her bare feet, her muddy legs...
The Blurb
Now: When Ruthie gets the part of one of Macbeth’s famous three witches she can’t wait to get started. Inspired by the beauty of the film’s Scottish locations and the camaraderie of the cast and crew, she can leave behind the expectations of her family and her lacklustre love life, at least for now. But as echoes from the past begin whispering in Ruthie’s ear and a restless spirit draws her further into its centuries-old secrets, it soon becomes clear that only she can uncover the truth of a terrible injustice.
1050 Scotland: Isobel and her two sisters have learnt about healing from their loving mother Sidheag, and she in turn has kept them safe. But without the protection of their late father, Sidheag knows that her daughters must find husbands or their futures are at risk.
Isobel believes in love over duty and when she catches sight of King Macbeth’s stepson Lulach she can picture a happiness she had hardly dare imagine. But as heir to a Scottish throne that is drenched in blood, Lulach’s destiny is to be a warrior. When Isobel’s actions leave her and her sisters vulnerable to accusations of witchcraft there may be nothing that can keep the three women safe, not even the great Macbeth himself.
As the calls from the past grow ever louder, Ruthie has no choice. Macbeth’s witches have a story that needs to be told and the truth can no longer stay hidden…
My Review
This was a fabulous book and I devoured the whole thing over one weekend. It had me gripped from the very first page.
It has a dual timeline narrative, set in Scotland in both the eleventh century and the present. It moves seamlessly from one period to the other.
The titular three witches are those that we find in Shakespeare's Macbeth. In the earlier time period, the main character is Isobel. She is the youngest of three daughters and folklore suggests that it is the third daughter who can be the powerful one when compared to her sisters.
Isobel lives with her two sisters. She is a healer and midwife who is respected in her community. However, when the villagers begin accusing her of witchcraft, it isn't long before the story takes a much darker turn for Isobel.
In the present day, Ruthie is an actor who has been cast as the third witch for a documentary that is being filmed about Macbeth. It is being made in Forres, the small Scottish village believed to be the place where Macbeth and the witches lived. It's not long before Ruthie begins to feel a connection to Isobel. This enabled both main characters the opportunity to experience similar feelings, whilst bringing folklore and romance into the story.
I really enjoyed the way Ruthie challenged the stereotypes of the women who were labelled as witches, and the reader is led to consider them through modern eyes.
It is a highly atmospheric and haunting read and I don't hesitate in giving it five stars. The author's description of both the setting and time periods has been done brilliantly.
It has been well researched, making this a believable foray into the story of the witches in Macbeth. The author brought both timelines together brilliantly and it makes for wonderful reading.
I absolutely adored this book. If you are a fan of historical fiction, particularly that which concerns women who were labelled as witches, you will enjoy this book very much. It is publishing today and I highly recommend this book and I now cannot wait to get stuck into more of this author's books.
Book Details
ISBN: 978 1785131912
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)
No. of Pages: 360 (paperback)
Purchase Links
About the Author
Elena Collins is the pseudonym for Judy Leigh, the million-selling author of Five French Hens , The Old Girls' Network and The Silver Haired Sisterhood. Judy writes uplifting novels in the 'second chances' and ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction.
Elena Collins' novels are historical/ dual timelines. In 2025, her novel The Wicked Lady received the RNA award in this category. Judy has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.
You can also find Elena at:
(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)
(all opinions are my own)
(Bookshop.org affiliated)
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