A review by keysmashhh
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

emotional informative sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Plot: 3/5
Character: 4/5
Relationships: 4/5
World-Building: 4.5/5
Genre: 4/5
a really really good historical fiction book it just took me agessssss to read because it was very slow pacing-wise. All the important and shocking events take place in the last 75 pages which means that 2/3rds of this book is very good but not very engaging - meaning I put this book down a few times and completely forgot about it. The descriptions of the island were stunning and generally i felt that the quality of writing was superb. I liked the slow build to the relationship between Maren and Ursa - usually id complain it was too slow, or not enough payoff at the end but in their case i think it was always a doomed love and the book doesn't shy away from that fact. the book makes some interesting comments on women's roles, and the way religion is used to supress people, and a particularly striking moment is during the witch trials which felt very intense and had me very emotional whilst reading. i've read a few of Kiran Millwood Hargrave's books, a long long time ago, i remember feeling similarly about them, that she's a great writer but there was something that kind of felt like the book tripped itself up, in this case it was the pacing. in terms of historical accuracy i don't know too much about Scandinavian history but in terms of my knowledge of the witch trials and King James' book it all seemed to be fairly accurate. I liked the dual perspective i think it provided an interesting cross section of society explored and gave real depth to both characters. In Maren's case i really felt for her as she looses her brother, fiancé, sister in law, nephew mother and the love of her life across the course of the book and you really feel she has no escape - even the ending is confusing and ambiguous but doesn't leave much room for hope.