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The Changeling
Not yet published
Expected 7 Jul 26On her fourteenth birthday, Caiti NicNeven discovers her true mother is the queen of the Sidhe, the faery folk who dwell beneath Scotland’s hollow hills. Bound by ancient grievance, the faery queen demands Caiti become the instrument of her revenge against the mortal crown stolen a thousand years before.
Drawing on a dangerous magic she barely understands, Caiti flees. She finds refuge at the treacherous court of Mary, Queen of Scots. As fear and religious fervour grip the country, Mary is pressured into passing an Anti-Witchcraft Act, placing every woman – and every whispered spell – in peril.
Watching from the shadows, the faery queen tightens her hold. When Caiti falls in love with Robbie, the son of a local laird, her mother strikes, cursing him to dance himself to death beneath the faery moon.
To save the man she loves, Caiti must cross into the faery realm and confront the mother who would destroy her – and claim a wild, dangerous magic of her own.
Inspired by the true story of Scotland’s first witch-hunt, The Changeling is a spellbinding tale of witchcraft, forbidden love and defying fate.
Drawing on a dangerous magic she barely understands, Caiti flees. She finds refuge at the treacherous court of Mary, Queen of Scots. As fear and religious fervour grip the country, Mary is pressured into passing an Anti-Witchcraft Act, placing every woman – and every whispered spell – in peril.
Watching from the shadows, the faery queen tightens her hold. When Caiti falls in love with Robbie, the son of a local laird, her mother strikes, cursing him to dance himself to death beneath the faery moon.
To save the man she loves, Caiti must cross into the faery realm and confront the mother who would destroy her – and claim a wild, dangerous magic of her own.
Inspired by the true story of Scotland’s first witch-hunt, The Changeling is a spellbinding tale of witchcraft, forbidden love and defying fate.
- GenresFantasy
Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 7, 2026
About the author
Kate Forsyth
88 books2,601 followersKate Forsyth wrote her first novel at the age of seven, and is now the internationally bestselling author of 40 books for both adults and children.
Her books for adults include 'Beauty in Thorns', the true love story behind a famous painting of 'Sleeping Beauty'; 'The Beast's Garden', a retelling of the Grimm version of 'Beauty & the Beast', set in the German underground resistance to Hitler in WWII; 'The Wild Girl', the love story of Wilhelm Grimm and Dortchen Wild, the young woman who told him many of the world's most famous fairy tales; 'Bitter Greens', a retelling of the Rapunzel fairytale; and the bestselling fantasy series 'Witches of Eileanan' Her books for children include 'The Impossible Quest', 'The Gypsy Crown', 'The Puzzle Ring', and 'The Starkin Crown'
Kate has a doctorate in fairytale studies, a Masters of Creative Writing, a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, and is an accredited master storyteller.
Her books for adults include 'Beauty in Thorns', the true love story behind a famous painting of 'Sleeping Beauty'; 'The Beast's Garden', a retelling of the Grimm version of 'Beauty & the Beast', set in the German underground resistance to Hitler in WWII; 'The Wild Girl', the love story of Wilhelm Grimm and Dortchen Wild, the young woman who told him many of the world's most famous fairy tales; 'Bitter Greens', a retelling of the Rapunzel fairytale; and the bestselling fantasy series 'Witches of Eileanan' Her books for children include 'The Impossible Quest', 'The Gypsy Crown', 'The Puzzle Ring', and 'The Starkin Crown'
Kate has a doctorate in fairytale studies, a Masters of Creative Writing, a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, and is an accredited master storyteller.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 18, 2026
ARC Review: The Changeling by @kate_forsyth_ published by @penguinbooksaus and supplied by @netgalley
Release date: 7 July 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you are after a beautifully written historical fiction interwoven with Scottish folklore and mythology, then this book is for you. The story is set during the reign of Mary Queen of Scots and the lead up to the historic witch hunts of Scotland and England during the 16th century.
Our FMC Caiti has always been a little different from her family and on her 14th birthday, she finds out that she is in fact a changeling, a child of the fairy queen who replaced a human child with her. From here Caiti must fight against the destiny her fae mother has set out for her and instead fight for the life and love she wants.
This book was so well researched and the Scottish fairytales of the fairy folk layered so well within the Scottish history we know of. The narrative kept me hooked from start to finish.
Release date: 7 July 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you are after a beautifully written historical fiction interwoven with Scottish folklore and mythology, then this book is for you. The story is set during the reign of Mary Queen of Scots and the lead up to the historic witch hunts of Scotland and England during the 16th century.
Our FMC Caiti has always been a little different from her family and on her 14th birthday, she finds out that she is in fact a changeling, a child of the fairy queen who replaced a human child with her. From here Caiti must fight against the destiny her fae mother has set out for her and instead fight for the life and love she wants.
This book was so well researched and the Scottish fairytales of the fairy folk layered so well within the Scottish history we know of. The narrative kept me hooked from start to finish.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have Scottish heritage, and when I spotted this ARC on NetGalley, I immediately snatched it up. I'm so glad I did.
The Changeling is a lush historical fiction that takes the testimony of accused witches in sixteenth century Scotland as truth, and weaves a story in and around the real events of the time. Caiti, our protagonist, is rooted in a real woman, one of the few actually named in the earliest witch trial records, burned in Monzie and then largely forgotten by history. Forsyth refuses to leave her forgotten. She places her at the centre of Mary Queen of Scots' reign and gives her agency, presence, and consequence.
Overflowing with Scottish folklore, historical detail, rebellion, and romance, it had me hooked from the first page. For anyone who already knows Mary, Queen of Scots story, the ending will be no surprise. But what Forsyth does is show you the inside of it, and that is where the devastation lives.
The historical research underpinning this novel is extraordinary, and it shows in every page and the result is a book that feels both ancient and still entirely relevant. One line in particular stood out to me: "they hate what they fear, and they kill what they hate." In the context of sixteenth century Scotland it is damning enough. Read it in 2026 and it lands all the harder.
Five Stars.
The Changeling is a lush historical fiction that takes the testimony of accused witches in sixteenth century Scotland as truth, and weaves a story in and around the real events of the time. Caiti, our protagonist, is rooted in a real woman, one of the few actually named in the earliest witch trial records, burned in Monzie and then largely forgotten by history. Forsyth refuses to leave her forgotten. She places her at the centre of Mary Queen of Scots' reign and gives her agency, presence, and consequence.
Overflowing with Scottish folklore, historical detail, rebellion, and romance, it had me hooked from the first page. For anyone who already knows Mary, Queen of Scots story, the ending will be no surprise. But what Forsyth does is show you the inside of it, and that is where the devastation lives.
The historical research underpinning this novel is extraordinary, and it shows in every page and the result is a book that feels both ancient and still entirely relevant. One line in particular stood out to me: "they hate what they fear, and they kill what they hate." In the context of sixteenth century Scotland it is damning enough. Read it in 2026 and it lands all the harder.
Five Stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was absolutely thrilled at the opportunity to read an arc of The Changeling by Kate Forsyth thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Australia.
I love Kate Forsyth’s writing, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading previous books of hers so knew I was in for a treat with this one.
The book is based mostly during the 1660s when Mary Queen of Scots returns to Scotland from France where she had lived since she was five years old. It coincides with the hysteria around witchcraft and toward the end of the book, the first witch hunts begin in earnest.
Our protagonist is a changeling, Caiti, who was unaware of this until she turned 14 and her biological mother begins luring her to do her bidding. Caiti resists with all her might but her faerie powers increase nonetheless. Her Great Aunt is a Cunning woman, a kind and loving healer and bee-keeper in Monzie and the family have been raised with love, respect and a do-no-harm mentality. So when Caiti learns she is a changeling and never told, she is angry and runs away. She ends up as a privy cook in the court of Mary Queen of Scots, so we get an inside view of all the treachery that takes place.
This is a historical novel first and foremost, layered expertly with Scottish Folklore and a gentle love story, woven together perfectly. There is magic in the hollow hills…
I love Kate Forsyth’s writing, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading previous books of hers so knew I was in for a treat with this one.
The book is based mostly during the 1660s when Mary Queen of Scots returns to Scotland from France where she had lived since she was five years old. It coincides with the hysteria around witchcraft and toward the end of the book, the first witch hunts begin in earnest.
Our protagonist is a changeling, Caiti, who was unaware of this until she turned 14 and her biological mother begins luring her to do her bidding. Caiti resists with all her might but her faerie powers increase nonetheless. Her Great Aunt is a Cunning woman, a kind and loving healer and bee-keeper in Monzie and the family have been raised with love, respect and a do-no-harm mentality. So when Caiti learns she is a changeling and never told, she is angry and runs away. She ends up as a privy cook in the court of Mary Queen of Scots, so we get an inside view of all the treachery that takes place.
This is a historical novel first and foremost, layered expertly with Scottish Folklore and a gentle love story, woven together perfectly. There is magic in the hollow hills…
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Changeling was an absorbing tale. The story of Caiti, who discovers her family is not really hers, and that she is of faery folk, and was placed with the family she has grown up with by her mother, the queen of the Sidhe. Her blood mother tells her she is destined to fulfil her wish for revenge on mortal royalty, something Caiti wants no part of.
I really enjoyed this book, with its elements of Scottish history, blended with a tale of faery folk and witches. Kate Forsyth has written another wonderful fantasy story.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
I really enjoyed this book, with its elements of Scottish history, blended with a tale of faery folk and witches. Kate Forsyth has written another wonderful fantasy story.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Changeling by Kate Forsyth is a beautifully woven tale of magic, mystery, and heart. Rich with folklore and atmospheric storytelling, it completely pulled me into its world from the very first page. The characters felt vivid and real, and the emotional depth gave the story a haunting, unforgettable edge. Enchanting and immersive—I was utterly captivated.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed reading this spellbinding tale of witchcraft inspired by the true story of Scotland’s first witch-hunt. It was an entertaining read and interesting. With so much thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher Penguin Random House Australia for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Ohoho good quality historical fantasy is so back you guys
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews