"Reisert's first novel is a satisfying coming-of-age account of loss and loneliness and of revenge and its consequences. It tells the story of the young foundling named Gilly living in Birnam Wood with Nettle and Helga, who take her in after Macbeth's deeds leave her homeless. Though she is considered a witch, Gilly is also just a young woman driven by ordinary but powerful emotions. Her goal is Macbeth's destruction, and the action relates closely to Shakespeare's play, offering considerable tension and suspense for those who know that story. Reisert, a playwright who has also directed four productions of Macbeth, offers an intimate look at life in an 11th-century castle from the servant's point of view, portraying a period in history that is somewhat neglected in fiction. Though Gilly's journeys in pursuit of her goal put her in unlikely circumstances, she is believable as a strong, dynamic, and sympathetic heroine who struggles with her emotions and personal identity"