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Sisters of Castle Leod: A Novel Kindle Edition

4.0 out of 5 stars 719 ratings

An Editors' Choice of the Historical Novel Society

"Heartbreaking and redemptive...a thoroughly engrossing story." –Megan Chance, bestselling author of A Splendid Ruin

A family tragedy, a forgotten legend, and two sisters locked in a bitter feud...

Millions are fans of Diana Gabaldon's popular Outlander books and television series, but few know that Gabaldon's fictional Castle Leoch was inspired by a real Scottish castle, Castle Leod. The two sisters who lived there at the turn of the twentieth century were among the most fascinating and talked-about women of their era.

Lady Sibell Mackenzie is a spiritualist, a believer in reincarnation, and a popular author of mystical romances. Petite and proper, she values tradition and duty. Her younger sister Lady Constance, swimming champion and big game hunter, is a statuesque beauty who scandalizes British society with her public displays of Greek-style barefoot dancing. The differences between the sisters escalate into conflict after Sibell inherits their late father's vast estates and the title 3rd Countess of Cromartie. But it is the birth of Sibell's daughter that sets in motion a series of bizarre and tragic events, pitting sister against sister and propelling Sibell on a desperate mission to challenge the power of fate.

Sisters of Castle Leod, by award-winning author Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard, is the emotionally charged story of two sisters torn apart by jealousy and superstition, and the impossible leap of faith that could finally bring them together.

Popular Highlights in this book

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I love the way Bernard dips in and out of events in the sisters' lives without overwhelming the narrative ... This is TV costume drama material and comes well recommended." -Editors' Choice, HIstorical Novel Society

"This expertly written novel is a beautiful example of how historical facts can be researched and transformed into a work of art. To say this novel was difficult to put down would be an understatement. From the first page, I knew this would become one of my favorite historical novels."
-Sublime Book Reviews

"A magical, mystical, mesmerizing tale of two real-life noble sisters of Castle Leod, caught up in shocking passions that cast them in opposition, yet desperate for reconciliation."
-Rebecca Rosenberg, award-winning author of Champagne Widows

"With shocking revelations and twists throughout the book, the reader is never sure what each new chapter will bring. Overall, with an excellent plot and character development, this book is awe-inspiring."
-Pacific Book Review

"Whilst the historical element of this novel can easily be compared to some of the great historical novelists...the ghostly apparitions and contact with the spirit world add an original view of a woman who was, in so many ways, ahead of her time."
-Readers' Favorite

"...a carefully researched historical novel with a touch of the supernatural."
-Gail Ward Olmsted, author of Landscape of a Marriage: Central Park Was Only the Beginning

About the Author

Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard is the author of two Amazon bestsellers: THE BEAUTY DOCTOR, "a compelling historical novel steeped in mystery with strong elements of a medical thriller" (Readers' Favorite), and TEMPTATION RAG: A NOVEL, a "resonant novel ... about the birth and demise of ragtime ... luxuriously crafted" (Publishers Weekly). Her books have been finalists for the Eric Hoffer Book Award and National Indie Excellence Awards, received a gold medallion from Book Readers Appreciation Group, and been named a historical fiction Discovered Diamond. Elizabeth and her family live near Phoenix, Arizona.Visit Elizabeth's website and historical fiction blog at www.EHBernard.com

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BG36NZK5
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Black Rose Writing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 19, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.3 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 315 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 719 ratings

About the author

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Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard
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Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard is the author of bestselling historical and women's fiction. Her 2023 release, SISTERS OF CASTLE LEOD: A Novel (Book 1 of Historic Women of the Highlands), is Winner of the 2023 Maxy Award for Historical and Adventure Fiction and an Editors’ Choice of the Historical Novel Society. THE SEAFORTH HEIRESS: LADY OF THE LAST PROPHECY: A Novel (Book 2 of Historic Women of the Highlands) was an Amazon Kindle #1 New Release in Historical Biographical Fiction during August 2024 and has received favorable reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Independent Book Review, Readers' Favorite and others.

Elizabeth's historical mystery-thriller THE BEAUTY DOCTOR (2017, 2024) was a finalist for the prestigious Eric Hoffer Book Award. The book’s re-release in 2024 features a stunning new cover and an Author Preface with insights into social and moral issues of the Edwardian era that frame this shocking fictional story set in the early days of cosmetic surgery. Her historical novel TEMPTATION RAG was hailed by Publishers Weekly as a “resonant novel . . . about the birth and demise of ragtime . . . in which romance and creative passions abound.”

"I strive to write books that leave the reader with plenty to ponder," says Elizabeth. "Issues of trust, faith, and the role of destiny in our lives are themes that I often explore in my novels. I enjoy ambiguity, which is perhaps one reason I am fascinated by historical characters whose lives, in retrospect, can be interpreted in so many different ways."

To learn about Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard's latest releases, follow her on Amazon.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
719 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this historical novel engaging, with one review describing it as a gripping tale of contrasting lives. Moreover, the book receives positive feedback for its readability and character development, with one customer noting how it allows readers to travel with the characters. Additionally, customers appreciate the Scottish setting, with one review highlighting the fascinating history of Castle Leod.

18 customers mention "Storytelling"14 positive4 negative

Customers praise the storytelling in this historical fiction novel, with one customer noting how it kept their interest throughout and another describing it as an enchanting tale of two sisters.

"...on real people, sisters of Castle Leod is well-researched and equally descriptive, allowing the reader to travel with the characters through their..." Read more

"...note that Sibell and Constance were real people adds to the imaginative storytelling...." Read more

"...reader’s attention, to want to know what is going on next with these realistic, relatable two sisters. The characters felt real...." Read more

"...of the literate, spiritual elder sister Sibell and her beautiful, sensuous and tempestuous sister Constance are echoed in the contrasts between the..." Read more

10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a wonderful read, with one mentioning it's a great summer read that holds the reader's attention.

"...It's a good read." Read more

"...in Netflix’s The Crown, Sisters of Castle Leod makes for an enjoyable quick read...." Read more

"...Great read" Read more

"...The author knows how to hold the reader’s attention, to want to know what is going on next with these realistic, relatable two sisters...." Read more

5 customers mention "Character development"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting how the story influences the characters and their choices.

"...Leod is well-researched and equally descriptive, allowing the reader to travel with the characters through their happiness as well as their trials..." Read more

"...the ancient city of Tyre, backdrops come to life, influencing the characters and their choices...." Read more

"...The characters felt real. I could recognize what family dynamics propelled the younger sister to be motivated to act and be as she was...." Read more

"I was very pleased to read this book and meet the characters. It wasn’t just another book about Scotland, or historical novel." Read more

3 customers mention "Lore"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's Scottish setting, with one mentioning their enjoyment of the Highland lore and another noting the fascinating history of Castle Leod.

"...I enjoyed the lore of the Scottish Highlands as well as the tales of the sisters trying to make their way through world that did not allow women a..." Read more

"The story of the Mackenzie sisters who lived in Castle Leod is fascinating! The author develops the characters and settings to perfection...." Read more

"interesting novel set in Scotland in early 1900’s..." Read more

Great Summer Read
5 out of 5 stars
Great Summer Read
I’m a big fan of Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard’s work! I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed her previous books, The Beauty Doctor and Temptation Rag. I was excited when I learned that she released another book, Sisters of Castle Leod. I didn’t realize I was such a big fan of historical fiction until I started reading Bernard’s books. As always, I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn’t wait to be carried away on the journey of the two sisters, Sibell and Constance, through their major life events, love and turmoil. I am fascinated with this turn-of-the-century time period, Bernard describes the story eloquently and in such detail that you can imagine yourself there in person observing it all as it happens. Definitely a great summer read!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2025
    One would assume that life as a countess would be easy, when there is an endless supply of servants, wealth, parties and marriage proposals, but that is farthest from the truth. Who would suspect that much of the turbulence comes from within the family? A gripping historical novel based on real people, sisters of Castle Leod is well-researched and equally descriptive, allowing the reader to travel with the characters through their happiness as well as their trials and tribulations.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2025
    Moves quickly. Complicated family
    Not uplifting
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2023
    Castle Leod is from my mother's line and I've visited there so the story held a special interest for me. It's a good read.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2023
    The force of sibling relationships draws readers in with raw emotion in Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard’s Sisters of Castle Leod. The power comes from an undercurrent of tension that ties sisters, Sibell and Constance, together and drives them apart. When Sibell, the older of the two sisters, inherits her father’s landholdings including the Castle Leod, the wedge widens. While hardly destitute with a dowry in reserve and a sister dedicated to caring for her, Constance chafes against tradition and embarks on public and private scandals to satisfy her free spirit. In turn, Sibell embraces marriage and motherhood, ready to settle into a comfortable life as Countess of Cromartie. When her first infant daughter dies without warning, old superstitions surface and accusations fly. Searching for answers, Sibell turns to spiritualism, desperate to find a way to bring her daughter back to life, even if it’s through reincarnation.

    Moving from the Scottish Highlands to London with a detour to Venice and the ancient city of Tyre, backdrops come to life, influencing the characters and their choices. Reminiscent of the relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret as presented in Netflix’s The Crown, Sisters of Castle Leod makes for an enjoyable quick read. Learning from the author’s note that Sibell and Constance were real people adds to the imaginative storytelling. I highly recommend it for readers looking to escape into real and imagined worlds of familial duty, romance, spiritualism and sibling relationships.
    9 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2023
    Sibell is the older sister, the practical one, who inherits the land and money and crown when their father passes. Constance is the dreamer, and always wanting the “best”. Constance believes that Sibell wants to punish her, not realizing their father’s will is what gave Sibell the most. Great read
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2023
    This book kept my interest throughout the entire story. I looked forward to reading it each night, and I would think about it during the day, wondering what was going to happen next. It was a cliff hanger, page turner, but more than just a mysterious plot. The author knows how to hold the reader’s attention, to want to know what is going on next with these realistic, relatable two sisters. The characters felt real. I could recognize what family dynamics propelled the younger sister to be motivated to act and be as she was. I understood the conflict between love and jealousy that the older sister had of her younger sister.

    I also could feel the tension, anxiety and somewhat paranoia that was pumping off the pages, which made me liken it to another author I loved to read, and always remembered, Daphne du Maurier.

    The dialogue captured the historic feel of the late 1800’s and pre-WWI Britain and Scotland, which also made the novel feel real, and not a fantasy. This novel is based on the true- life experiences of these two sisters. It made me want to know more about them and spiritualism.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2023
    I am only halfway through the book and was hoping it would get better, but it has not. It is a tedious read and is really kind of stupid. I don't think I'll finish it; half of it was a good enough try.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2023
    According to Goodreads: “Millions are fans of Diana Gabaldon’s popular OUTLANDER books and television series, but few know that Gabaldon’s fictional Castle Leoch was inspired by a real Scottish castle, Castle Leod. The two sisters who lived there at the turn of the twentieth century were among the most fascinating and talked-about women of their era.” Well, I’ve never read Gabaldon’s books, nor seen the TV series, and don’t intend to do either, to be honest. My regular readers know that I prefer more reality-based, literary novels. However, after enjoying Bernard’s novel “Temptation Rag” she asked me if I’d like to read and review this one as well. I agreed, not knowing about the paranormal stuff in this book, but rather because I knew I liked Bernard’s writing style. Mind you, I have read ghost stories by other authors that have written literary works, but these fantastical elements do tend to rub me a bit the wrong way, and I’m afraid this will be reflected in my rating.

    Thankfully, it isn’t like the whole book is filled with scenes about the occult and reincarnation. In fact, while this gets some nods early in the book, and then gets really going at one point, it also tapers off at a certain point, but not totally forgotten. Bernard distinguishes between the sisters in that Sibell believes in the supernatural, but Constance fully disavows it all as superstitious. So, when the story includes more about the rebellious Constance, there are fewer connections to spiritual world, and more about the down-to-earth irregularities of Constance’s behavior. Mind you, Sibell does attribute some events as having magical effects caused by some of Constance’s actions. Personally, I just call that coincidental, even when Sibell is almost certain that Constance is somehow dabbling in the dark arts. Obviously, this leads to some rifts between the sisters which aren’t easy to smooth over. Essentially, together with the biographical aspects of this book, what we have here is a study of a sibling dynamic that sometimes borders on the toxic.

    Since these two women actually existed, and because the information about them seems pretty sparse, this enabled Bernard to invent a few fables surrounding the two of them. On the one hand, we have Sibell who was a countess in her own right (not something that women inherited at the time), as well as a well-known spiritualist and an author of several fantasy/romance stories and novels, which gained her both acclaim and some wealth (no, I won’t be looking to read any of them). Mind you, Sibell’s inheritance was also carefully curated by herself and her advisors in order to keep from losing financial stability, which happened to many owners of such large estates in the early parts of the 20th century. This makes her admirable on many levels, even if I doubt that she really saw ghosts, believed in curses, or could remember a past life as a Phoenician!

    On the other hand, Bernard shows Constance to be fairly irresponsible, and even mentally unstable, which may have contributed to her increasing financial problems, despite having received a substantive inheritance herself. In fact, looking over all of Constance’s antics, one might tend to believe that she might have been bi-polar, or suffering from some type of mental instability, or even some kind of unknown addiction. Of course, Bernard also posits that some of the problems with Constance was her jealousy and anger regarding Sibell’s being named their father’s sole heir, combined with Sibell’s envy of Constance’s own beauty and talents.

    As you can see, this is certainly a recipe for a truly fascinating story, and Bernard’s lyrical prose enhances this, tapping into as much as possible from these very divergent sisters, and then filling in the blanks with her own imagination. Yes, I still dislike novels that ask us to accept the paranormal as fact, and I honestly don’t think Bernard is asking us to do this here. Actually, I found many reasonable, and logical explanations for most, if not all of Sibell’s unearthly events. This is probably why I continued reading this book despite some of the more bizarre scenes, and why I’m recommending it – particularly for those readers who don’t mind, or perhaps enjoy these elements in their novels – with a very solid four stars out of five. (Yes, it might have gotten 5/5 from me if Bernard had fully debunked all those elements.)

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