Hagtale
A Macbeth Origin Story
Published on 6. November 2025
Book
Hardback
240 pages
978-1-917189-08-8 (ISBN)
Description
A hagtale, a dark fable, a story told around winter's fires and known to Shakespeare but never written down. Until now.
In eleventh-century Scotland, feral wolf-child Wulva is brought up by witches and then sent to live at a Scottish castle, where she falls under the spell of cruel, ambitious Lord Macbeth.
Three hundred years later, gentle Brother Rowan goes on a strange and perilous journey to a remote and ancient monastery to write a history of the Scottish king-line.
Misfits in their own time, seekers after truth, Wulva and Rowan are deeply connected despite the centuries that separate them.
Hagtale explores the power of stories lost and found, their transformative potential, and who gets to be the owner of the tale
In eleventh-century Scotland, feral wolf-child Wulva is brought up by witches and then sent to live at a Scottish castle, where she falls under the spell of cruel, ambitious Lord Macbeth.
Three hundred years later, gentle Brother Rowan goes on a strange and perilous journey to a remote and ancient monastery to write a history of the Scottish king-line.
Misfits in their own time, seekers after truth, Wulva and Rowan are deeply connected despite the centuries that separate them.
Hagtale explores the power of stories lost and found, their transformative potential, and who gets to be the owner of the tale
Reviews / Votes
'This vivid novel features a wolf child, a crazed warlord and a walking forest, conjuring a world where nature is alive and wild, and human nature is cruel and deadly. Giving new life to the old fireside yarn that inspired Shakespeare's Macbeth.' -- Eithne Farry * The Irish Daily Mail * 'A strange, epic, haunting tale.' -- Chetna Maroo, author of <i>Western Lane</i> 'A book of blood and guts with some of the most exquisite nature writing I've ever read.' -- Hannah Vincent, author of <i>Alarm Girl</i> Praise for Dark Aemilia:'A gripping novel that gives feisty feminist voice to the unknown woman who inspired Shakespeare's sonnets.' -- <em>Kirkus Reviews</em>, starred review Praise for Dark Aemilia:
'A pleasure for anyone who enjoys well-crafted historical fiction.' -- The Washington Post Praise for Dark Aemilia:
'Seethes with intrigue, sorcery, and sex.' -- The New York Times Book Review Praise for Dark Aemilia:
'With elegant style, masterly wordplay, and an eye for historical detail, O'Reilly beautifully relates a passionate and tragic love story.' * Library Journal * Praise for Dark Aemilia:
'A lively, vividly rendered novel about the dramatic life of an extraordinary woman.' * Booklist *
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 218 mm
Width: 141 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
350 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-917189-08-8 (9781917189088)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Sally O'Reilly grew up in Stoke-on-Trent and now lives in Sheffield. En route, she's spent time in Brixton, Brighton, and Barcelona. Her short stories have been published in the UK, Australia, and South Africa, and she has been shortlisted for the Cosmopolitan short story prize and the Ian St James Awards. Her historical novel Dark Aemilia (Myriad Editions/Picador US) was nominated for the Kirkus Prize. She has worked as a senior creative writing lecturer at the Open University and her journalism has been published in The Guardian, The Sunday Times, and New Scientist.