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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
honestly….. i don’t know why i expected a bit of magical realism witchcraft but i do wish it had been there. something else that may have affected my opinion may have been that i read this in south louisiana where it is categorically 1 billion degrees and reading this book about the far north just made it feel even hotter out!!
but other than that - so incredible to have a story that features a sámi character and colonial events that affected her. so many people do not consider the european occupation of northern scandinavia and finland to be colonization and yet!!! it certainly was!! i loved all of the women in this story i just wished it had been a bit… more.
but other than that - so incredible to have a story that features a sámi character and colonial events that affected her. so many people do not consider the european occupation of northern scandinavia and finland to be colonization and yet!!! it certainly was!! i loved all of the women in this story i just wished it had been a bit… more.
In the 1600s, a village of Norwegian women must learn how to survive on their own after all of their men die at sea. This means the women must learn how to do all the things the men did like hunting and fishing. But there are factions within the village (notably the devout Christian women) who do not like that some women are straying from traditional gender norms or that others still adhere to a folk religion. This all comes to a head when a witch hunter moves to town.
A slower paced novel that focuses on the lives of them women and their daily hardship as they learn to survive and live with their grief. It switches perspectives between 2 main characters - Maren, a villager, and Ursa, the witch hunter's wife - as they slowly build an unlikely friendship that has the potential to turn into something more. I really loved reading about both of these characters and the growth of their relationship. Even though the book was slower paced, it was still somehow a page turner for me because I couldn’t wait to see what happened next with each of these women.
As with any book with witch hunters in it, this was very frustrating to read at times. But it was SO good. Naturally neighbors and long-time friends turn on each other as they do in most books of this type. But it didn’t feel tired or cliched. It still felt like a fresh take on a witch hunt book. I think it’s because the book focuses more on the women's lives before the trial, than the trial itself which is only in the last few pages of the book.
I did not like the ending. In fact, I'm really annoyed by it. I loved this book up until that point which is very frustrating. I didn't need it to have a super happy ending, but I don't think that ending did the story any justice either. I guess I'm just going to have to write fan fiction in my head that it ended differently.
A slower paced novel that focuses on the lives of them women and their daily hardship as they learn to survive and live with their grief. It switches perspectives between 2 main characters - Maren, a villager, and Ursa, the witch hunter's wife - as they slowly build an unlikely friendship that has the potential to turn into something more. I really loved reading about both of these characters and the growth of their relationship. Even though the book was slower paced, it was still somehow a page turner for me because I couldn’t wait to see what happened next with each of these women.
As with any book with witch hunters in it, this was very frustrating to read at times. But it was SO good. Naturally neighbors and long-time friends turn on each other as they do in most books of this type. But it didn’t feel tired or cliched. It still felt like a fresh take on a witch hunt book. I think it’s because the book focuses more on the women's lives before the trial, than the trial itself which is only in the last few pages of the book.
I did not like the ending. In fact, I'm really annoyed by it. I loved this book up until that point which is very frustrating. I didn't need it to have a super happy ending, but I don't think that ending did the story any justice either. I guess I'm just going to have to write fan fiction in my head that it ended differently.
An island of mainly women cope and survive after losing their menfolk while fishing in a storm. Then powerful men are sent to the island to bring them into line and root out witchcraft and anyone or anything that doesn't follow their Christian principals. Based on true facts. Interesting but a tough read.
emotional
informative
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
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was such a compelling story, I couldn’t put it down. It is set in a historical/ geographical context that I do not know much about, and so it was interesting to learn of the witch trials beyond British history. I think Absalom was a particularly well written character. He was so believable despite his cruelty . I think this might be my best read of the year so far.
sad
slow-paced
This is a fantastic, slow-burn book that is quite refreshing. The tension builds and doesn't stop until the very end.
Really was enjoying it, but that ending sidles up to you and awkwardly gives you nothing.