Reviews with content warning for Rape - The Mercies

Hargrave creates such a wonderfully complex world and pulls you into the life of living in 17th century Vardø. To each of the main women, there is such a delicate intimacy to them. They want such human things, to be loved, to know love, to feel truly in charge of their own destinies, and yet the men around them suffocate them. The story felt both tender and harsh and I was entranced all the way through.

May the men who burned these innocent people burn as they once burned the innocent.

ALSO I noticed that 40 men died and there were 40 chapters in the book. The number 40 is so biblically significant so I wonder how intentional that detail was.

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samants's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The Dear America girl in me loved this look at the hysteria and hate that led to witch trials; neighbors turning on neighbors. I just wish this had gone a little deeper and had a happier ending.

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viksbooksandlifestyle's review

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challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

So tbh I picked this book up in the shop because of how pretty it was not on the basis of knowing what the book was about 😬😱
It was a little slow getting into it but once I was I quote enjoyed it. It was very interesting, a little haunting and dark at times. I found the ending a little disappointing and rushed. But overall a good book 👍

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paniquemecanique's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I would have rated it a 4 right after reading it but I just keep coming back to it in my mind. It was long and a bit hard to finish (shout out to my short attention span girlies) but it was a wild and beautiful ride.
This is a historical book based off real facts that takes place in Lapland in the 1800's, about the big european witch hunt, the colonization of the indigenous Sami people, and about a matriarchy. The characters are deep and nuanced and beautiful, and the whole story forces you to be fully there with them in every moment.
KMH is a divine autress who writes so intensely and beautifully, it is very hard not to be haunted by the book (I am writing this months after finishing it and I cant forget the most thrilling parts ).
Absolutely recommended, but be very mindful of the TW. It is a hard and truthful story.

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