In Finnmark, Norway in 1917, the lives of two very different women will intersect during one of the most dangerous times for women in modern history. Maren and the women of her village have lost all of their menfolk in a freak storm. A village primarily of women was unacceptable during this time, and three years later, witch hunter Absalom Cornet comes to bring order and religious council to the women of Maren’s village. He brings his beautiful, young wife, Ursa with him. The two women begin to form a tenuous friendship, but when it grows into something more and Absalom begins his witchunts anew in Maren’s village, it could spell doom for our heroines.

I have mixed feelings about this book. This isn’t a good time for women in general, and especially those who might be different. There’s always an excuse to accuse a woman of witchcraft, and overall, this doesn’t seem like it will end well. It took me almost halfway through the book before I even got into the story and before I was invested in the characters. I hated Absalom immediately, as I was supposed to, but I didn’t endear myself to Ursua and Maren as quickly as I’d hoped. Once it got me, though, I was hooked. It may take a good while to get going, but once it does, the story doesn’t slow down.

Its themes aren’t anything new, something along the lines of whether it’s worse to be a woman in society in the 1600s at the mercy of men who can end your life on a whim, or to be a witch (or accused of one) with the tiniest hint of individually and freedom before you are burned at the stake. Heavy questions that I don’t think this book attempts to answer. No matter, that’s not the point. The point is that the author took an event in history and told us the story of these womens’ lives. Their deaths have become what has defined them in modern history, but they were so much more than that, and I love that we get to see them as people, not as martyrs or sacrifices or victims of circumstance.

If you’re into melancholic, historical fiction with queer characters and realistic endings, definitely give this one a go. I almost gave up on it once or twice, but I am so glad I kept with it until the end. I’ll be thinking about it for some time to come. It’s been out a month, so you’ll have no trouble getting your hands on a copy.

The Mercies is an immersive novel that will appeal to fans of historical fiction, with a hint of social and feminist critique. It succeeds in painting a vivid and picturesque setting, but falls short with slow plot.

The Mercies is very beautifully written, has dynamic characters, the story was easy to follow, and I really loved every page. That's it. That's the whole review.



4/5 Stars

This tale of resilience in the face of oppression is richly woven and hugely evocative. Full review posted at BookBrowse: https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/reviews/index.cfm/ref/pr260096

Harrowing, gorgeous and more than timely. I loved every bit of this book. Who knew 1600s Scandinavia would be enthralling?

A haunting, richly rendered tale of women living on the edge and their response to challenge and tragedy. THE MERCIES is a compelling human story, fiercely original and wonderfully written, but--more than that--is a story which will haunt the reader days after the last page is read.

The Mercies is neither a gothic nor a psychological thriller, but fans of those genres will enjoy this title every bit as much as fans of historical fiction will.

The time is the 17th Century. Maren lives on a remote island that is part of Finnmark. All the men on the island, with the exception of a few elders and children have been killed in a catastrophic storm while fishing. The women are forced to take on what had previously been men's work if their village is to survive. To the south, Ursa is rushed by her father into a marriage with a man she has met only once. Ursa knows she will be moving to this remote village, but she doesn't know her new husband is going there because he's a well-known witch-finder.

In a land where survival has been a daily struggle, even before the storm, it's easy for neighbor to turn against neighbor, easy to grow suspicious of the ritual practices of the indigenous Sami, easy to do something that can be misinterpreted. In The Mercies, Kiran Millwood Hargrave weaves a deadly web that can't be escaped. You will not want to put this title down once you start reading.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions are my own.

Christmas Eve, 1617. "...the storm comes in like a finger snap...the sea and sky clashing like a mountain splitting...All about her, other mothers, sisters, daughters are throwing themselves at the weather...a final flash of lightning illuminates the hatefully still sea...of their men, there is no sign...Papa used to say that the sea was the shape of their lives. They have always lived by its grace...but the storm has made it an enemy...".

All forty fishermen were killed in the Vardo Storm. The women, able to recover the bodies, must store them over the frigid winter until the frozen ground softens...but...What caused the storm? Is it "the devilry" of the indigenous Sami people who used charms, runes and weather-weaving?

Maren Magnusdatter, 20 years old, had lost her father, brother Eric and her betrothed, Dag, to the storm. Diinna, of Sami descent, was married to Eric. Despite the "press of thumb to her forehead", this did not "...draw a thread to reel men at sea home again" based upon Sami custom.

June, 1618. Kindness of neighboring villages aside, "...we must start to carry ourselves. The ice is gone, we have the midnight sun...time to fish...". Eight women, dressed in their dead men's sealskins and caps...are consumed by their work. Some of the women "[watch] from windows and keenly from the doorway of the Kirke...[judging, unfavorably]...". Kirsten Sorensdatter takes the lead by caring for and slaughtering reindeer, and by the way, wearing trousers while doing so. It might seem "ungodly" for women to be in charge. First, Pastor Kurtsson is sent to Vardo to provide continuing Christian values and additionally "bring the Sami" into the fold . While Maren and Kirsten fish, chop wood and ready fields for planting, "Kirke women" hang on Pastor's every word.

Changes are coming. The new independence and self-sufficiency of the women is suspect. Interest in the pastor's message is waning. Suspicion is growing. Did witches wreck havoc and cause the harrowing storm? To this end, a Scotsman named Absalom Cornet is appointed commissioner to Vardo. His job: to root out witches by the method of "branding, strangling, and burning". Sinister Absalom Cornet, a religious zealot who prays fervently, has no tolerance and expects subservience from all women. He has brought his bride, Ursa to this harsh land. Ursa, a sheltered teenager, finds a friend and confidant in Maren. The friendship is unlikely, devotion to each other, beautifully portrayed.

"The Mercies" by Kiran Millwood Hargrave engendered a plethora of emotions. I felt sadness, longing, isolation, love, tenderness, anger and frustration. I felt as if I spent time in Vardo with both Maren and Ursa, the principal, well detailed and well written protagonists of this historical fiction tome describing the Vardo Storm of 1621 and the life changes of a group of strong-willed, determined women. Highly recommended.

Thank you Little, Brown and Company and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Mercies".

Finmark, Norway, 1617 in the fishing town of Vardo, a storm sweeps in, causing the deaths of forty men. All the names left are the elderly, the very young and the village cleric. Now, the women must fend for themselves, which presents a huge problem. Women are not supposed to wear pants not rushing boats.

I finished this book a few days ago and it hasn't left my thoughts. The atmosphere is so immersive, the characters so well drawn. Maren is a young 22, but capable and free thinking. Ursa, not used to this life, nor her sudden marriage to a man who has been sent to weed out witchcraft. Some of these women show surprising strength and work together for their survival. Some as always are jealous and willing to label those who have more, as witches. Marens sister in law, now a widow with a young son, is a Sami and these are people whose customs and runes are suspicious.

This book doesn't spare one in it's descriptions of the smells and sounds, nor the beliefs of those in the village. The tone is tense and builds as the story progresses, as the danger becomes more apparent. Although there names may not be real, what happens here is actual history, as the author note explains. She also explains how and why the witch trials were happening in various countries and villages. A horribly, tragic time and one well documented in this novel.

Reminiscent of the novel, Burial rites, but with its own character and flavor.

ARC from Netgalley.

4.5 stars. "The Mercies" deserves all the buzz and stellar reviews it has earned on both sides of the Atlantic. Life in 1600s Finnmark (the part of Norway that overhangs Russia and Finland) is rendered with a keen eye (and nose too—Kiran Millwood Hargrave does a superlative job of engaging all the senses). The story does not get bogged down in description, though. It flows perfectly. Every character is believable, as are the relationships among them. And the ending is both somewhat unexpected and inevitable.

Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Mercies.

I love to read books inspired by true events so I was excited when my request was approved.

In the early 17th century, a devastating storm kills 40 men from a small island village. As a result, the womenfolk must take on the tasks and jobs of their spouses and fathers,

Three years later, a man arrives with his Norwegian wife, Ursa, hired by the church to rid the village of heretics and witches.

As Ursa adjusts to her new husband and living arrangements, she inexplicably bonds with a young woman named Maren and their relationship will astound them both, and lead their lives down a path neither one of them could have ever imagined.

First, the writing is very good.

The setting of the Norwegian coast and brutal winter atmosphere really sets the mood and tone of the book. You can feel the sting of wind on your cheeks, the bleakness and despair of the women, but also the awe inspiring beauty of nature, over which us humans have very little control over.

There are many female characters, all of them unique and different, and the author does a good job shaping each unique personality. I wish there was more interaction between the women, such as how Toril grew into such a brown-noser.

The book starts off slow, developing the scene, the characters, and Ursa and Maren's lives before the women meet.

The descriptions of the witch trials are harrowing and disturbing, as they should be, and left me feeling a myriad of emotions; anger, sympathy, sadness.

Yet despite the harsh conditions the women lived in, the expectations heaped on them by an unforgiving and patriarchal society, it was beautiful to read about the love between two women, who never expected to be a part of something special.

The Mercies isn't for everyone, but it will leave you thinking long after you've finished reading.

Set in 17th century Norway, this book details the struggle between a group of widowed women from a small village and the hellfire and brimstone pastor determined to bring them under his will. Written with heartbreaking historical clarity and intrigue, The Mercies follows Maren - a young woman left to pick up the pieces after her village's men die in a natural disaster - and Ursa - the pastor's young wife who struggles to find herself in this desolate place. Each character is wonderfully fleshed out and the tension in the book is palpable. This is perfect for fans of history and women/gender studies!

A special thank you to Netgalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

I had never heard of the witch hunts in the Nordic countries before, so I was excited to pick this up. It's a bit of a slow read but the culture of the women in this particular arctic town in Norway was an interesting way to learn about this period in Norwegian history. I wish the story would have spent more time with how the women in the north continued to build their community and function after the loss of all the men in their town. I think a few additional scenes to develop the relationships between the women and their community before the addition of the commissioner and his wife, would have made the tension and conflict later in the book hit a little harder. Hargrave did a great job at giving us well-developed and fleshed out main characters. I would have loved to see more about what happens to this town but I understand that the book was meant to focus more on the conditions that led to the witch hunts. Altogether, it was an interesting read and I think this would be a great pick for book clubs.

Literary fiction at its best a witch hunt women characters that come alive.First by this author for me looking forward to reading more by her and researching the Vardo storm. #netgalley #littlebrownbooks

Wow, what a BEAUTIFULLY written story. This is my first by Kiran Millwood Hargrave and I'm so glad I picked this up. It is also inspired by true events and now I want to read more about the Vardo storm.

Being from Massachusetts, I have a low-key obsession with witch trials. While I knew they occurred all over the world, I had never heard of the Vardo witch trials. The Mercies details life during these trials in a fictionalized account of real-life events that happened in the small fishing village in Norway in the 1600s.

The book begins with a storm that kills 40 fishermen from the tiny village of Vardo, leaving their wives, sisters, and daughters all alone to carry on. Maren's father, brother, and fiancé are all killed. The women, including Maren, her mother, and her brother's wife and new baby, learn to live on their own, but soon a commissioner (Absalom Cornet) is sent from Scotland to oversee the village. And in his eyes, part of his job is to bring religious piety to the women and rid the village of all evil. He brings with him his new wife Ursa, a young woman from a once well-to-do Norwegian family who has no idea what life will be like in a small fishing village with a stern husband she can't seem to connect with.

We get the story from both Maren and Ursa's eyes, two women with entirely different backgrounds who manage to connect. When some of the women in the village are accused of being witches, we see who decides to defy the commissioner and stand by them and turns their backs. In many ways, this story is really nothing new, but thanks to the setting and circumstances of the women, it feels unique.

The book is slow at times and took me a little while to get into, but it's the kind of book that, while quiet, will leave you with a lot to think about. I kept imagining myself living in Vardo and dealing with the circumstances these women were forced to deal with. For me, The Mercies was a powerful book.

With the phrase "witch hunt" being bandied about so carelessly these days, it is imperative to remember how horrific actual witch hunts were. The seventeenth century saw many, but the story of the 1621 Vardo, Norway witch hunt isn't on most people's radars. This book will put it front and center. Madness and terror at the top of the world.