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katyab's review against another edition
4.0
Loved The Mercies, very much. But my goodness, do I need a cheerful book now. I finished it at about 11:15, put it down, and just stared at the ceiling, had a bit of a cry, then went to sleep still thinking about it.
It hurt to see the women turn on one another, to see good people stand by and do nothing, to see bold women (and men) shamed and murdered for their practicality and for their difference, even for their kindness and how they deal with grief. I had such a deep rage reading this book, at how unjust and ridiculous the witch-hunting mania was. It was painful, in such a bleak and wild setting, and I thank KMH for providing the lifeboat that is Maren and Ursa. Really wonderful, true characters, (and the righteous-evil villain done right, I was fascinated by and afraid of Cornet) and such beautiful writing.
The last act felt slightly rushed to me, but that's really nothing. Overall this book is astonishing, I was thoroughly invested in the story and the characters' relationships.
It hurt to see the women turn on one another, to see good people stand by and do nothing, to see bold women (and men) shamed and murdered for their practicality and for their difference, even for their kindness and how they deal with grief. I had such a deep rage reading this book, at how unjust and ridiculous the witch-hunting mania was. It was painful, in such a bleak and wild setting, and I thank KMH for providing the lifeboat that is Maren and Ursa. Really wonderful, true characters, (and the righteous-evil villain done right, I was fascinated by and afraid of Cornet) and such beautiful writing.
The last act felt slightly rushed to me, but that's really nothing. Overall this book is astonishing, I was thoroughly invested in the story and the characters' relationships.
shelleydavis's review against another edition
3.0
Really more of a 3.5.... it starts off kind of slow but does pick up towards the end
hannahri0's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Torture, Racial slurs, Violence, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Hate crime, Racism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
soiwritejollytales's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
helena26's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
lauren176's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kdahlo's review against another edition
5.0
Solid thriller with (spoiler) a bit of romance. If you liked Portrait of a lady on fire but wanted even more dark, weird sadness by the sea.
jarolee3396's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
youmeandem's review against another edition
2.0
I came into this expecting a rampantly feminist read about a group of women, some of them queer, surviving in historical Norway. But as it went on and the hopelessness started to set in, I could hardly find any feminism in its pages, only desperation and women turning on each other at the drop of a hat to win a man's favor.
I enjoyed the writing style, but I found some real issues with the pacing and the characters didn't do much except react and lust after each other—for no apparent reason other than they were the main characters and queer, the suddenness of which I also expect to be the result of the pacing. Months would go by in a few lines and we were supposed to believe they had a really deep and profound relationship, but still the moment they got together it felt empty and misplaced.
If anyone wanted to read about witch trials in 1620s Norway I'm sure this would be an interesting read for them, but if anyone expected even an ounce of feminist actions against said trials I would have to steer them away from this book at all costs.
I enjoyed the writing style, but I found some real issues with the pacing and the characters didn't do much except react and lust after each other—for no apparent reason other than they were the main characters and queer, the suddenness of which I also expect to be the result of the pacing. Months would go by in a few lines and we were supposed to believe they had a really deep and profound relationship, but still the moment they got together it felt empty and misplaced.
If anyone wanted to read about witch trials in 1620s Norway I'm sure this would be an interesting read for them, but if anyone expected even an ounce of feminist actions against said trials I would have to steer them away from this book at all costs.