The title, cover & concept of this book really had me hooked from the get go. It is a beautiful read to cosy up by the fire in a cottage reimagining yourself in soft candle lite room with sheep skin rugs and a steaming mug of tea fogging the window.
However while the book is beautifully written, I found I wasn't gripped to my seat at 4am in the morning as the sun came up to finish. It's a contemplative book with family relationships being the heart of the story. With that said, if you do happen to find yourself cooped up in a Norwegian cabin and looking for some mystic viking/nordic reading, do give this book a read.

Witches at the End of the World, by Chelsea Iversen
Rating: 4/5
Published: NOW
“The witching blood in my veins can be benevolent. It can be dark. It can be powerful, shake mountains. It can be small, contained in a hex bag the size of my palm.”
Witches at the End of the World is a beautiful exploration of what it meant to be a witch in Norway during a time of fear and uncertainty. Deep within the beautiful birchwood, two sisters have been forced to live in hiding after their mother was burnt at the stake. Minna is an angry force of nature, who uses her powers shamelessly, and has nothing but vitriol for the village that condemned her mother. Kaija, however, longs to return to the community, and live an ordinary life. She leaves her sister, and ventures to the village, where she has to change her name and appearance to survive. The itch of magic is never far from her mind though, and she struggles to escape the calling that runs in her veins. When people begin to die around Kaija, people become suspicious of this strange woman who seemed to appear from nowhere, and she suddenly realizes that acceptance will never be simple. This book has an element of fantasy about it, because the depictions of magic are raw and whimsical, but that is not the narrative’s focus. Iversen weaves a gorgeous story about acceptance of the self, familial bonds and the dichotomy between belonging and being true to yourself. I loved it. Iversen’s descriptions of the sea, the community and the call of witchcraft are spectacular. She captures the complicated relationship between Minna and Kaija beautifully. Readers of Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Anya Bergman will love this.

This was a highly anticipated read for me as I love magical realism, especially set in the past. Unfortunately this was a well written book that just did not resonate. Normally, dual perspectives add so much to a story, however in this case, it made the storytelling very confusing. I also find dual perspectives written in the third person really distracting.

Iverson is an atmospheric writer and the Norwegian background was beautiful. The characters are well rounded which is why I continued to read. Overall, this was not for me but I think it would be well received by the right reader.

The Witches At the End of the World is a fairly straightforward story. However, Chelsea Iversen’s debut novel draws strength from its well-developed magic system and unique setting. I loved the use of a historical Norwegian village during the witch trials to ground the magical story in reality.

While Minna and Kaija are witches, Iversen describes their witchcraft as almost drawn from a separate but internal source. Both sisters describe the feeling of the witch within them as practically clawing to come out, even scratching at their skin with need. The way they react to this need is what separates them most. Kaija uses her magic for small charms, mending torn objects and protecting her home. Minna, on the other hand, sees magic as strength and tends towards darker curses and spells.

The way they view magic may come from their difference in age, as well as the memories they have of their childhood home. As the older sister, Kaija remembers living in the village and seeing her mother use magic to help around the house. But since Minna is younger, all she remembers of her childhood is the villagers burning her mother at the stake. All of her motivation comes from fear and rage.

While both sisters claim love for each other, they think about it more than they actually show it. Their love and anger is certainly woven together. However, they feel so much bitterness and regret that it’s difficult to really see their bond as a reader. The same can be said of their interactions with secondary characters. Many of the villagers blended together. If Iversen developed them a little more, it could have done a lot to deepen their relationships, interactions and betrayals.

Above all, The Witches At the End of the World is about what it means to be different in a world that expects you to conform. Iversen tells a story of good and evil in the face of religious bigotry and patriarchal expectations. It’s a solid read for anyone looking more for atmospheric description than a fast-paced plot.

The Witches At The End of The World is a unique blend of witchy fiction and historical fiction along with the contemporary theme
of sisterhood plus Norwegian folklore. Definitely glad I requested this book!

Two sisters deal with the death of their beloved grandmother in the dark, stark woods of Norway, They must come to terms on how to move on after living in isolation since their mother burned after being accused of being a witch by the village during their childhood. One sister decides to carry on in her wooded solitude, practicing the old ways and spells their mother and grandmother taught them, while the other decides to return to the village, hoping that she can hide her magic, while blending into village life to create a more "normal" life of friends, family and love, Each sister hates the choice the other sister makes and their resentments grow until tragedies bring them both back together to support each other and try to right what went wrong. The story of the sisters' journeys is slow, quiet, desolate and depressing, as they realize that human nature is suspicious of what they aren't familiar with and don't comprehend. The story is descriptive but at times repetitive. I would have loved to have more memories and descriptions of their lives in the village before their mother died, not just descriptions of her tragic death, I would have enjoyed more character interaction and background information. Then ending was hopeful for the sisters, giving them the skills and tools to create their own "village" and family for their futures.

The nicest surprise of Deathtober's reading. I hadn't read anything by Author Iversen before this, and was expecting a more horror-tinged read...what I got was a revenge story, featuring sisters whose lives were upended by small-minded christian hatemongers. There is definitely a supernatural element to the story. It isn't, however, the kind of all-in horror that ends up with your psyche splattered in gore.

A big part of the reason for that is this is a story that unspools slowly, and in a very interior way. It is almost a récit à deux, a double recit, though such a beast doesn't exist (that I know of). Minna is angry, bitter, and filled with the inexhaustable fuel of contempt for those not as smart as she is. Kaija, on the other hand, is genuinely kind if extremely Other by virtue of who she is and whom she knows best. She is the sister whose path is always set by her desire to see, and be, the best it's possible to, in herself and others. Her decision to return to their home village where their mother was burned alive as a witch causes Minna to react violently She casts a curse on the whole village. Her rage can never be extinguished, but can be thrust outward to burn others.

The reason the book appealed to me is probably the reason some found it frustrating. I liked the slower pace that the author chose, as it left more time for me to get to feel the sisters' differences of character. The third-person narration, told in short chapters alternating between the sisters, was spangled with lovely sentences that use Norwegian terms, that unfold into images of the birch woods and the village, in three mental dimensions. Shadows and light are lovely almost characters.

The Norse "pagan" craft is wonderfully used, with figures from the Norse mythos making their presences known without coming across as intrusions into Reality by pagan gods...they feel like characters whose names we happen to know. The worldbuilding is thus made that much more enjoyable for a twenty-first century atheist. The way that Kaija, the elder sister, yearns for life in the village as a christian wife and a mother did not sit well with me...selling herself short and out to be average, when she could be a Power? Not the kind of message I'd choose to send. But Minna's rageful reponse to her sister's absconding, while understandable, skates perilously close to Evil. The author was very wise to be sure we know that Minna's curse is not the cause of Kaija's different life challenges. That made what could've been unpleasant horror into not-entirely-pleasant, deeply thought through, supernatural fiction.

Set at the crossroads where Norway had to choose between its old, established supernatural beliefs and the newfangled ways of the christian church in a lasting, final way, this story of sisters whose choices define the stakes, and the costs, of each course is one I think is ideal for anyone on your Yule list who loves immersive reads. Investing the time to be in this world with Kaija and Minna is easiest to make happen now that the nights are long and the winds are cold. It was a pleasure to meet Author Iversen. I would commend Minna, and Kaija (though less so), to your long nights of deep reading.

Two sisters are torn apart after their mother is burned at the stake. Minna stays in the darkness of the forest while Kaija goes into the village to start afresh. In a fit of rage, Minna unleashes a curse that spirals out of control, destroying everything Kaija loves in the process.

The Witches at the End of the World is a historical family drama told from the dual perspectives of two sisters that are witches. I loved seeing things from both points of view. Both sisters took such different paths after the traumatic death of their mother. Kaija is sweet, hard working, and determined to build something better for herself, even if she has to act normal. Minna prefers to fully embrace being a witch, but she can be reckless and temperamental. That said, the book was pretty slow for my tastes. The first half is a lot of story set up with most of the true action happening in the second half. Also, the characters didn't actually interact a lot. A good chunk of the story was the sisters' internal dialogues, and while that definitely gave good context, it slowed pacing down and took away from their interactions with basically everyone else. A+ for world building, but not for character building or character relationships. Ultimately, this was a slow read that does pay dividends if you decide to push through. It is saved by its engrossing atmosphere as long as you don't require deep characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all views expressed are my own.

This is a fascinating look into a time and place where anything out of the ordinary--fewer fish being caught, the church catching fire, an illness--is thought to be the work of witches, and people are burned...only here, magic really does exist. But it's not always the people who are accused. Two sisters, both witches, are scarred after seeing their mom burn at the stake and leaving their village forever. Years later, one seeks revenge and the other wants to go home. Chaos ensues.

I really enjoyed exploring this world with some Norwegian lore and even words thrown in. Swapping POVs between sisters each chapter makes it interesting. I think it would add depth and tension to add one or two of the villagers. Overall, though, I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys stories with a grounded take on magic and familial relationship challenges with childhood trauma.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Chelsea Iversen twice now, both times prior to actually reading The Witches at the End of the World. It had me so interested in reading this debut, and of course, I can't help but mention how beautiful and cool I think the cover is! This story is based on sisters, but really speaks to the witchcraft panic that spread through Finnmark, Norway. I know little about the witch trials that occurred especially in places other than Salem, and while this didn't actually contain any of the trials themselves, it was still a very eye-opening experience for me. I loved the alternating chapters between Kaija and Minna, and it was nice getting to see the contrast between what was going on with Minna in the forest with her magic and Kaija in the village trying to hold hers back.

I really enjoyed the audiobook and thought that Liz Pearce & Amy Scanlon did such wonderful jobs with their characters. I am also really glad that there were 2 narrators as I just don't think it would have been the same with only 1. Pearce and Scanlon really did the story justice in my opinion and they were also very pleasant to listen to and easy to understand. And I can't deny they also helped keep me engaged since the pacing was quite a bit slower than I was expecting it to be. There is definitely a revenge aspect to the story, but I was honestly hoping it would be a bit more aggressive than it actually ended up being and I was left wanting more of the rage that the synopsis promised. All in all, I found The Witches at the End of the World to be a very compelling debut, and I can't wait to see what Iversen publishes next!

"The Witches at the End of the World" by Chelsea Iversen is a captivating tale that weaves a spellbinding narrative around the two sisters, their enchanting journey, and the profound lessons they discover. I found myself utterly engrossed, as the magic infused into every page kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to unravel the next twist in their mystical adventure. The sorrow and growth experienced by the characters were portrayed with a heartbreakingly beautiful touch, leaving a lasting impression. Iversen's storytelling prowess shines through, creating a world where the bonds of sisterhood and the magic within us resonate long after the final page is turned.

This is a debut novel from Iverson and I have high hopes for her. Her descriptions and scene settings are in a word: stunning. My biggest issue with this book it is about 88% inner monologue/descriptions and only 12 % actual dialogue. I know inner monologues are necessary but I am never a fan of reading a whole book set in someone's mind. I prefer reading how the characters interact with the world around them.

I did find her note at the end fascinating. Never did I realize how prevalent the witch burnings were around Europe. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, I rated it a 2.5.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC
Two sisters , who are also witches dealing with trauma after fleeing their village when their mother was burned to death
Later on, Kaija decides that she wants to return to the village and live normal life against the wishes of her sister Minna. So Minna curses the village.

This one was a little slow for me. I enjoyed the dual narrative aspect though. I tend to really love witchy books but this one just didn't hit the spot for me. I couldn't connect with the characters as much as I'd normally like and found myself reading it just to finish.

If you love earthy witch magic, sisterly bonds, feminine rage, and character that are torn on which kind of life they wish to lead, this book is for you. This take on witches and more earth, based magic gave me Salem Witch hunt type vibes as the sisters had to hide their magic from others in order to stay alive. The Witches at the End of the World is filled with poetic, atmospheric writing as we follow two sisters who followed two different paths after the loss of the two magic-wielding matriarchal figures in their lives. While reading this, I felt myself wondering what I would do in each sister’s shoes, which path would I take? Is there a right or wrong way to live when it comes to happiness when happiness is not a guarantee? What would I do for a beloved family member? These questions, and many more, fueled my reading journey. I giggled, I gasped, I even cried a little! If you love a more historical, familial vibe with your magic reading, The Witches at the End of the World is 100% for you. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC opportunity, I loved this book!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 of the World by Chelsea Iverson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre/tropes: magical realism, historical fiction, superstition

Two sisters, Minna and Kaija, grow up deep in the woods with their grandmother after their mother is burned at the stake for being a witch. Mormor has raised them to protect themselves and hone their magic. Kaija, though is tired of the isolation, and longs to return to the village. Whereas Minna has nothing but contempt for the villagers who persecuted their mother. After their grandmother’s passing, Kaija leaves their hut to return to village life, leaving her younger sister to stay, and continue living freely as a witch. This choice has severe consequences.

Most of the story takes place in their heads so you get a sense of the isolation they’ve endured. You see their perspectives, and how their mother’s death affected them differently. While I appreciated the insight into their minds, I was also anxious to move beyond their isolation. It’s about halfway through the book when things get going thanks to strange occurrences, a disease outbreak, and religious and superstitious villagers accusing the devil of working through witches. Immediately you know where this is going. History could be repeating itself. Kaija’s not safe, and Minna has to face repercussions.

This is a well told story, and a good choice if you’re looking for a seasonal read with a historical bent to it. Set in Norway, Iverson shows life at a crossroads of abandoning the old ways for the new Christian god, and how it displaced and endangered the practitioners of the ancient gods and medicine. I got caught up in it, and the ending was not how I expected it to go. As I said, a good pick for spooky season.

Thanks to @bookmarked for my ARC in exchange for an honest

I found this book a little slow to start, and the storyline was somewhat hard to understand at the beginning. But it is a good story about two sisters and the ups and downs of their relationship as witches. Overall, it was good but just not for me.

I wish the book had more dialogue and had a quicker pace. I felt no connection to the story or characters. The cover and description caught my attention but the story couldn’t keep it.

This book moved slow but I really enjoyed it! I loved how different Minna and Kaija were. I really enjoyed the historical timeline and being set in Norway. It gave it such a magical feel. And they seemed like real people not your usually "fantastical" witches. This book could have had more detail in it, but then it would have been extremely long. I wanted more descriptions and more interactions with Kaija and the village and Minna and Olen. It was still a great read.

The summer(?) of witches continues with The Witches at the End of the World, by Chelsea Iversen. From contemporary romance we travel to historical fiction with this small tale of sisterhood nestled in the woods of Norway centuries ago. I’m impressed with how Iversen won me over despite my qualms about the book’s pacing and plot! I received an eARC from NetGalley and publisher Sourcebooks in exchange for my review.

Kaija and Minna are witches. For most of their lives, they have lived in seclusion in the birchwoods with their adoptive mother, who spirited them away from the village of their birth after their mother was burned at the stake for witchcraft. Now grown, their adoptive mother dead, Kaija and Minna are at a crossroads. Kaija is determined to return to the village and establish an “ordinary” life for herself. Minna, far darker of temperament, sees no need to suppress her magic or fit in with ordinary people. The sisters part ways, each trying to find success at the life they want to lead. Of course, it can’t be that simple….

I was intrigued by the promise of sister drama. Minna’s bitterness towards the world as a result of her and her mother’s persecution is a dark seed that she willingly nurtures. When Kaija abandons her—as she sees it—she is rightly furious. As Kaija works to establish a new life for herself, Minna seeks her out and plots something that is, if not revenge, then revenge-adjacent. The tragedy of Minna’s descent into antagonist and eventual blackhearted villain was so tantalizing for me. However, lest I misrepresent the book and at risk of spoilers—it is not quite meant to be.

Now, the book is still about the bond of sisterhood. That much remains intact, and it’s this theme that kept me going. Watching Minna pull herself back from the brink of darkness proves compelling even as Kaija must grapple with her own setbacks. I admit that Iversen likely made the right call by ensuring that the worst of Kaija’s misfortunes are not directly wrought by Minna. Not only does it offer a pathway to redemption for Minna in the eyes of Kaija and the reader alike, but it’s a potent reminder that often our worst moments in life are not anyone’s fault. Circumstances just suck sometimes.

I liked this book. I also struggled with this book. It’s just slow. It’s a lot of narration from each sister, and it takes forever to get going. Yet at the same time, it feels like we never get to know anyone other than Kaija and Minna. They hold every other character at arm’s length in their narration. Fifteen years in and I still don’t have a great term to describe how I feel about this style of writing. The closest I can get is that I can’t connect with the characters. It’s possibly related to my inability to visualize as I read: authors who rely primarily on descriptive language tend to fall flatter for me than authors who use more dialogue and action.

So, as is usually the case, your mileage may vary. This is a sweet story of sisterhood and dreams denied. It’s a tragedy wrapped around family ties, and it’s an interesting exploration of the ways in which internalized misogyny can fuck you up. But it’s a little slow, and it never quite lives up to the promises I feel like it establishes at the start of the story.