A review by saskiajuliette
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

"The Mercies" isn't a fairytale that kisses you on the forehead and offers a soothing happy ending. It’s real and raw, and not everyone will have the stomach for it. This story will make you share the grief and feel the pain of the women before you who had to handle things most of us can’t even begin to grasp. It tells a fictional tale set during the true historical events of the witch hunts, where religion, men with power, and the bonds (and venom) of sisterhood create an amalgam of terror. I'm deeply impressed by how Millwood Hargrave wove history and fiction together seamlessly. There's no romanticization or sensationalism for the masses. It is a brave thing to write this way, and I'm thankful for the experience. This book is a creation of horrible beauty.