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A review by contemporarymeepsie
The Witches of Vardø by Anya Bergman
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Witches of Vardo is a retelling of the true witch hunre that happened in Noway between 1662 and 1663. It follows 2 main characters: Anna Rhodius, an outspoken physician sent as a prisoner to Vardohus by the King of Denmark and Ingeborg Iversdatter, a teenage fisherman's daughter caught up in her mother's witch trial.
I enjoyed this book and the story it told. I found the historical side of it very interesting. Anya Bergman does a fantastic job of describing the desolate island of Vardo where the main portion of the story take place. I found the pacing steady and the novel easy to read despite some of the more difficult portions. My only issue with the whole thing is that Maren at the end *spoilers* is described as having true magical powers and that didnt sit right with me. The thing I like about this kind of book is how superstition and religion can taint the appearance of actual events to be 'like magic'. Therefore giving Maren the ability to summon birds or rats makes the whole thing too unrealistic for me. I know it's historical 'fiction' but that can be done without magical realism, in my mind. Just a little gripe, but overall the story was enjoyable and I would recommend it to someone interested in witch trials, historical fiction or magical realism.
I enjoyed this book and the story it told. I found the historical side of it very interesting. Anya Bergman does a fantastic job of describing the desolate island of Vardo where the main portion of the story take place. I found the pacing steady and the novel easy to read despite some of the more difficult portions. My only issue with the whole thing is that Maren at the end *spoilers* is described as having true magical powers and that didnt sit right with me. The thing I like about this kind of book is how superstition and religion can taint the appearance of actual events to be 'like magic'. Therefore giving Maren the ability to summon birds or rats makes the whole thing too unrealistic for me. I know it's historical 'fiction' but that can be done without magical realism, in my mind. Just a little gripe, but overall the story was enjoyable and I would recommend it to someone interested in witch trials, historical fiction or magical realism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Racism, and Pregnancy
Minor: Infertility, Child death, and Suicide