Description
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave is a haunting historical novel inspired by the real Vardø storm of 1617 and the witch trials that followed in northern Norway. When a violent storm kills forty fishermen in the remote coastal village of Vardø, the women left behind are forced to survive without the men who once sustained their community.
Three years later, Absalom Cornet arrives from Scotland with a reputation for hunting witches, accompanied by his young Norwegian wife, Ursa. While Absalom sees the independent women of Vardø as evidence of evil, Ursa is drawn to their strength—particularly that of Maren Magnusdatter. As Maren and Ursa grow closer, their relationship becomes increasingly dangerous under Absalom’s oppressive rule and the growing persecution of women accused of witchcraft.
Atmospheric and deeply unsettling, the novel explores female independence, love, religious persecution, power and obsession against the stark landscape of 17th-century Norway. This book would appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction, witch trials, feminist historical narratives and dark, atmospheric stories inspired by real events.
