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A review by fmooks
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
dark
emotional
sad
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? No
5.0
Wow wow wow. This book was an emotional read that showed the complex human experience that we can imagine these characters would've had. From grief, jealousy, cruelty to shame, guilt and love.
Somehow Kiran Millwood Hargrave made me hate specific characters and then cry for them in the end.
While this novel is about the Vardo Witch Trials, it focused more on the conditions that could lead to a Witch Trial in this remote area of Finnmark in the first place - rather than the trials themselves. This book really dug into familial relationships, relationships within a small community, and how all of that is impacted by grief.
I did think that the ending was slightly rushed. I see what the author was trying to do with how they wrapped it up but it left me slightly dissatisfied. That didn't take away from my 5* rating though. At one point I was laying in bed, reading, crying (lol) at the "breathe deep" scene - and that will stay with me.
Somehow Kiran Millwood Hargrave made me hate specific characters and then cry for them in the end.
While this novel is about the Vardo Witch Trials, it focused more on the conditions that could lead to a Witch Trial in this remote area of Finnmark in the first place - rather than the trials themselves. This book really dug into familial relationships, relationships within a small community, and how all of that is impacted by grief.
I did think that the ending was slightly rushed. I see what the author was trying to do with how they wrapped it up but it left me slightly dissatisfied. That didn't take away from my 5* rating though. At one point I was laying in bed, reading, crying (lol) at the "breathe deep" scene - and that will stay with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Grief
Moderate: Death