
Queen Hereafter is a historical fiction novel that delves into the life of Margaret of Scotland, focusing on the early years of her marriage to King Malcolm. The story also introduces a fictional character named Eva, the illegitimate daughter of Macbeth's heir, who brings a different perspective to the tale. The book explores themes of loyalty, storytelling, and the power dynamics between the characters, providing a readable and engaging narrative set in eleventh-century Scotland.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes related to anorexia and historical violence.
Has Romance?
There is a medium level of romance present, particularly in the evolving relationship between Margaret and Malcolm, even as it is framed within the constraints of a political marriage.
From The Publisher:
Refugee. Queen. Saint. Based on the lives of Saint Margaret of Scotland and her husband, King Malcolm III, in eleventh-century Scotland, a young woman strives to fulfill her destiny despite the risks…
Shipwrecked on the Scottish coast, a young Saxon princess and her family-including the outlawed Edgar of England-ask sanctuary of the warrior-king Malcolm Canmore, who shrewdly sees the political advantage. He promises to aid Edgar and the Saxon cause in return for the hand of Edgar's sister, Margaret, in marriage.
A foreign queen in a strange land, Margaret adapts to life among the barbarian Scots, bears princes, and shapes the fierce warrior Malcolm into a sophisticated ruler. Yet even as the king and queen build a passionate and tempestuous partnership, the Scots distrust her. When her husband brings Eva, a Celtic bard, to court as a hostage for the good behavior of the formidable Lady Macbeth, Margaret expects trouble. Instead, an unlikely friendship grows between the queen and her bard, though one has a wild Celtic nature and the other follows the demanding path of obligation.
Torn between old and new loyalties, Eva is bound by a vow to betray the king and his Saxon queen. Soon imprisoned and charged with witchcraft and treason, Eva learns that Queen Margaret-counseled by the furious king and his powerful priests-will decide her fate and that of her kinswoman Lady Macbeth. But can the proud queen forgive such deep treachery?
Impeccably researched, a dramatic page-turner, Queen Hereafter is an unforgettable story of shifting alliances and the tension between fear and trust as a young woman finds her way in a dangerous world.
Reader Stats (1):
Want To Read (1) |
What can you read after
Queen Hereafter: A Novel of Margaret of Scotland?
About the Author:
With graduate degrees in art and art history, former college lecturer SUSAN FRASER KING is the author of several bestselling novels praised for lyrical style and historical accuracy. Raised in upstate New York and a frequent visitor to Scotland, she…
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.