Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

144 reviews

ruthmoog's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad slow-paced

3.25

This kicks off right away with a racial slur that's continued throughout the book... the historical note at the end really hits hard because the racial element is a side note to the stories of the women in the book, and it's just harrowing tbh. And the Samí are still being sidelined by Norway today.

Having said that, all the action happens in the last few chapters. After the storm at the beginning - the very interesting premise! - it plods slowly through the life of a timid protagonist... Over half way through the book I felt like nothing had happened.

But given that it's based on actual events in Vardø ther 's only so much you can do to stay true to the story of a village devastated by a storm.

edit: after reading other reviews I would note, I had no idea this was based on true events or about witch trials when I started, I only knew about the storm leaving a village of women be ind

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Death, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Racial slurs, and Murder

Moderate: Colonisation and Genocide

Minor: Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, and Racism

Drowning

jmitchell20's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This was a reread. I've been recommending this book to everyone I know for years so I wanted to check it was still as good as I'd remember, and it is! 
The writing is beautiful and the story is heart-wrenching. Read it over two miserable February days- the perfect backdrop. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Rape, Death, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Domestic abuse

b_easelbub's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Torture, Racism, Sexual assault, and Racial slurs

Minor: Miscarriage

windspice's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Miscarriage, and Death

Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual assault

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Torture

eleanora's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Grief, Miscarriage, Racism, Death, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, and Physical abuse

Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Pregnancy

jedore's review against another edition

dark informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

“Many of them seem past caring what is true or not, only desperate for some reason, some order to the rearrangement of their lives, even if it is brought about by a lie.”

Despite having an inherently predictable witch hunt storyline (weak, psychopathic men and women getting rid of the women they can’t control), this book about witch trials in Norway in the 1600s, totally held my interest.

It’s the first historical fiction I’ve ever read about Norway (and it’s indigenous population (the Samí people), which made it intriguing. I learned a lot about how the people living in this part of the world managed to survive in an extremely harsh environment. The characters also had depth and were either very relatable or totally detestable.

This was the author’s first adult book…I think she nailed it! I look forward to reading more.

Highly recommend this book to historical fiction lovers…and, of course, it’s a must read for all my fellow witches (AKA uncontrollable, walk-to-the-beat-of-their-own-drum non-Christians)!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Misogyny, Abandonment, Bullying, Religious bigotry, Grief, Sexism, and Murder

Moderate: Physical abuse, Classism, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Animal death, Homophobia, Alcohol, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts

flissrobyn's review against another edition

challenging reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The writing is beautiful, but makes for an effort full read as it’s slow paced at the beginning. Really loved the plot, found it brought to mind a lot of feelings, with the plot being quite dark. Beautiful book to read and I enjoyed it, but not an easy read or a happy-endings style book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Miscarriage and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Death

eleanorrosecugal'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? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Death, and Domestic abuse

_cararichardson's review against another edition

emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Loved the setting of this- Norway/Finland in the 1600s- felt really unique and interesting. I have to say I wish this book was longer! It took me a minute to get into this and the ending was too rushed. The writing in this is really beautiful but I felt that it was confusing in a few spots and I noticed at least one editing error. That being said, Hargrave set the scene beautifully and the tension between characters was really profound and sad.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Death

excellent_taste's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

An extremely heart breaking and beautifully written piece of historical fiction. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Sexism, Murder, Sexual violence, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Death of parent, Rape, Torture, Miscarriage, Homophobia, and Death