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A review by sophs_mood_reading
The Burnings by Naomi Kelsey
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I went back to my routes with this one (Elizabethan Era with a witchy premise) and boy did I adore it!
This dual point of view novel centres around two women Margareta, a lady in waiting to the Danish Princess (new Queen of Scotland) and Geillis, an orphaned house maid, learning midwifery and healing. These two women who couldn’t lead more opposing lives, find themselves thrown together into the world of the Scottish North Berwick witch trials and the Earl of Bothwell’s treasonous plots.
Enter secrets, accusations, hidden meetings, plots and conjuring and you have a brilliant historic fiction tale.
The book highlights the plights of woman in the age and how little freedom they had. How easily you can go from friend of the king to a prisoner in the Edinburgh Tolebooth.
The narration was fantastic, Scottish accents that were easily understood and easily distinguishable characters.
Although there are some factual plot points, like many a historical fiction novel, a creative licence was used to fill in historical gaps and help the story flow.
I did find the ending a little to quickly wrapped up and would have preferred a bit more depth, the epilogue was very much like tying up everything quickly with a bow.
This dual point of view novel centres around two women Margareta, a lady in waiting to the Danish Princess (new Queen of Scotland) and Geillis, an orphaned house maid, learning midwifery and healing. These two women who couldn’t lead more opposing lives, find themselves thrown together into the world of the Scottish North Berwick witch trials and the Earl of Bothwell’s treasonous plots.
Enter secrets, accusations, hidden meetings, plots and conjuring and you have a brilliant historic fiction tale.
The book highlights the plights of woman in the age and how little freedom they had. How easily you can go from friend of the king to a prisoner in the Edinburgh Tolebooth.
The narration was fantastic, Scottish accents that were easily understood and easily distinguishable characters.
Although there are some factual plot points, like many a historical fiction novel, a creative licence was used to fill in historical gaps and help the story flow.
I did find the ending a little to quickly wrapped up and would have preferred a bit more depth, the epilogue was very much like tying up everything quickly with a bow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Sexual assault, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Child death, Murder, Death, and Death of parent