Foes

Early 18th century Scotland trembles on the edge of rebellion. The Jacobite uprisings threaten to shatter families and friendships alike, and loyalty becomes a dangerous currency. Mary Johnston crafts a deeply felt narrative of bonds tested by political upheaval, centering on Alexander Jardine and Ian Rullock whose connection to each other transcends the shifting allegiances tearing their world apart. At Glenfernie House, English tutor Strickland watches Alexander with growing fascination, unable to pierce the mystery of a man whose loyalties remain magnificently unclear. Meanwhile, Mother Binning, blessed and cursed with the second sight, reads omens in the Highland mist, her warnings threading through a story where every handshake hides potential betrayal. As Scotland approaches its moment of transformation, these characters must choose: stand with the past, or gamble everything on an uncertain future. Johnston writes with atmospheric precision, capturing both the beauty of the Scottish landscape and the weight of what hangs in the balance.