‘Sally O’Reilly places us right in the centre of the hurly-burly, toil and trouble that happens before the action of every gothic fiction lover’s favourite Shakespeare play. Hagtale is a bold and surprising book, taking figures from classic literature and updating them in a way which feels at once audacious and predestined. It’s also a brilliantly gripping read.’ Anna Caig, author of The Wise Witch of Orkney

‘O’Reilly’s reimagining of Macbeth is stunning. Language, time frame, descriptions, plot, and character are brilliant. Connections between Rowan and Wulva are preternaturally curious. A gift to the expanding literary world of Macbeth.' Fiona Alison, Historical Novel Society

‘Hagtale is perhaps the kind of story we all once listened to around the fire, children and adults together. It is a fairytale, told fast and spare, with no danger of losing the listeners’ attention. There is brutal violence and page-turning suspense. Wulva and Brother Rowan are immensely likeable, both of them not only caught up in the expectations of others but powerful, inescapable spiritual forces.’ Stephanie Johnson, New Zealand Listener

‘Utterly absorbing, Hagtale was a delight from page one. A gripping story with memorable characters, it is also an engaging meditation on our relationship with the planet and with ourselves. A smart and thought-provoking addition to the tale of Macbeth — I will never think of Lady Macbeth in the same way again.’ Sarah Butler, author of Jack & Bet

‘A haunting novel, beautifully written. Sally O’Reilly has the ability to evoke whole landscapes in few words and to create characters whose lives are inseparable from the nature they inhabit. I was captivated by the stories of her two protagonists and of the land itself. A truly unusual read.’ Susanna Jones, author of When Nights Were Cold

‘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