▁non - f iction ▁book , ▁Brian ▁Bor u , ▁King ▁of ▁Ireland ▁( 1 9 8 2 ) ▁by ▁Roger ▁Ch atter ton - New man . ▁That ▁Mal col m ▁II ▁was ▁a ▁son - in - law ▁and ▁al ly ▁to ▁Brian ▁Bor u . ▁However , ▁Ch atter ton - New man ▁failed ▁to ▁note ▁his ▁own ▁sources ▁on ▁the ▁subject , ▁and ▁gene alog ist ▁Stewart ▁Bald win ▁has ▁doubt ed ▁the ▁pla us ibility ▁of ▁the ▁connection . ▁The ▁main ▁plot ▁of ▁the ▁novel ▁features ▁a ▁conflict ▁between ▁D onn ch ad ▁mac ▁B ri ain ▁and ▁his ▁half - bro ther ▁T ad c ▁mac ▁B ri ain ▁over ▁the ▁throne ▁of ▁Mun ster . ▁D onn ch ad ▁and ▁his ▁mother ▁G orm f la ith ▁ingen ▁M urch ada ▁travel ▁by ▁sea ▁to ▁Scotland , ▁seeking ▁the ▁aid ▁of ▁D onn ch ad ' s ▁brother - in - law ▁Mal col m ▁II . ▁The ▁old ▁woman ▁man ages ▁to ▁sett le ▁the ▁al liance . ▁ ▁The ▁historical ▁novel ▁Mac b eth : ▁An ▁Historical ▁Nov el ▁of ▁the ▁Last ▁C elt ic ▁King ▁( 2 0 1 1 ) ▁by ▁Robert ▁Harrison , ▁opens ▁with ▁the ▁victory ▁of ▁Mal col m ▁II ▁over ▁his ▁prede cess or ▁Kenneth ▁III ▁of ▁Scotland . ▁" Mal col m ▁stood ▁above ▁the ▁wounded ▁King , ▁sword ▁up ra ised . ▁No ▁words ▁were ▁spoken , ▁for ▁they ▁both ▁knew ▁the ▁penalty ▁of ▁defeat .