Have you read all five of our Darkland Tales novels yet? The most recent in the series, Queen Macbeth, is out now in paperback and they make a delightful set of books, showcasing the immense talent of Scotland’s novelists.

Polygon’s Darkland Tales see Scotland’s best writers re-imagining stories from the country’s history, myth and legend. This series reclaims history for a modern audience, with Scotland’s greatest contemporary novelists and storytellers taking on the challenge of producing Scottish history 2.0 – a redux of landmark moments from the past, viewed through a modern lens and alive to modern sensibilities.

The series has been described by the Scotsman as ‘one of the most interesting developments in Scottish publishing’ and by SNACK Magazine as ‘an essential series of books, offering the reader not only exhilarating writing, but fresh insights into the darker corners of Scottish history‘.

The Darkland Tales now include:

Queen Macbeth by Val McDermid
‘a page-turning tale of adversity and adventure, laughter and love, death and defiance’ – The Scotsman

Columba’s Bones by David Greig
‘spans themes of love, death and faith while unpacking the brutality of the mythologised Norsemen with comedy and romance’ – Scotland on Sunday

Nothing Left to Fear From Hell by Alan Warner
‘by turns funny and furious, raucous and rueful, Warner unravels this story of abject failure with winning aplomb’ – Daily Mail

Rizzio by Denise Mina
‘Stabby and pithy … an intriguing sketch in blood’ – The Guardian

Hex by Jenni Fagan
‘Fagan’s writing is wild and exciting… [she] stirs up a powerful brew with her magical fable’ – The Herald

We are extremely excited for autumn this year which sees the sixth novel in the Darkland Tales being published, Benbecula by Booker Prize shortlisted author Graeme Macrae Burnet. We can’t wait to share more information very soon!