The Three Witches

• Author: Elena Collins
• Genre: Historical Fiction
• Publication Date: March 2, 2026
• Publisher: Boldwood Books

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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…

I really love reading historical fiction, especially further back than history from the last two or three centuries. The fact that this book not only gets into a historical timeline in the 11th century, but also manages to tie it back to the events in Shakespeare’s Macbeth through the filming of a documentary.

I was immediately drawn into the 11th century timeline. It was easy to predict what the general outcome was going to be for three orphaned teenagers who practice healing and midwifery in a small village on the heath. However, I was engaged with Isobel and her sisters, and loved how each of their decisions and experiences all play a role in a coherent timeline of events. I will give the author credit for not including gratuitous violence, and dealing with witch hunts with sensitivity.

I started to enjoy the present day timeline more when filming of the documentary started and the author who started dropping bits and pieces of the story enough to put things together as they were being shaped. Ruthie read as a pretty flat character for me, especially since there didn’t seem to be much to her other than her love of acting and trying to find a positive aspect to everything. Instead, it felt to me like she was just there to be the person who the clues from the past are being revealed to, but there wasn’t a lot of personality there that I could see.

I’ve read some Shakespeare, including Macbeth, and had no idea about the factual basis behind the play. Macbeth, Lady Macbeth (Gruoch), Lulach, and others are documented historical figures, although the play was tailored to suit King James’ preferences. I love how the author overlaid modern day knowledge with the past timeline and the historical events, and it kept me engrossed with the story and learning more about this aspect of Scottish history.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable book. The pacing was steady, the jumps between timelines were clearly denoted, and the voices of Ruthie’s and Isobel’s chapters differed significantly so I was never confused about when and with whom the scene was set. There was a small romantic subplot that ran towards the end of the book, but I didn’t really feel like it felt organic. It didn’t add much to the story, and there wasn’t any tension or chemistry between them. However, I did love all the side characters and thought they were done really well. This is a great story.

Bottom line: The story is a wonderful homage to Macbeth, so if you like historical fiction, history, Shakespeare, or even just a book that features vividly beautiful scenery.

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