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A review by foxonabook
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The thing about historical fiction based on real events and real people is that it's easy to glamorize events that are objectively awful. It's why I haven't read any of those 'The So-and-So's of Auswitz' books.
When it comes to the many witch hunts and witch trials throughout history, I feel the same way. As a general rule, women are often a footnote in history, and many women's names and stories have been lost to us as a result of these witch hunts. This is why any book attempting to tell those stories has to, in my opinion, strike the right balance between the history and fiction elements. I think the author succeeds in finding that balance in this story of a small, remote Norwegian island and the struggle that its women faced after a devastating storm that killed the majority of the island's menfolk.
This is a story about survival, community, and love. The characters, who were inspired by the women of Vardo, feel lifelike. You can't resist empathising with the characters -even the less likable ones- as they navigate after the storm and come to terms with how Absalom will further disrupt life on the island.
I enjoyed getting to know Maren, Ursa, and the other women of Vardo, and I thought the writing was compelling. However, the ending was disappointing and could have been stronger. Without giving anything away, I think the ending could have better honoured the underlying theme of women's resilience and independence a lot better.
When it comes to the many witch hunts and witch trials throughout history, I feel the same way. As a general rule, women are often a footnote in history, and many women's names and stories have been lost to us as a result of these witch hunts. This is why any book attempting to tell those stories has to, in my opinion, strike the right balance between the history and fiction elements. I think the author succeeds in finding that balance in this story of a small, remote Norwegian island and the struggle that its women faced after a devastating storm that killed the majority of the island's menfolk.
This is a story about survival, community, and love. The characters, who were inspired by the women of Vardo, feel lifelike. You can't resist empathising with the characters -even the less likable ones- as they navigate after the storm and come to terms with how Absalom will further disrupt life on the island.
I enjoyed getting to know Maren, Ursa, and the other women of Vardo, and I thought the writing was compelling. However, the ending was disappointing and could have been stronger. Without giving anything away, I think the ending could have better honoured the underlying theme of women's resilience and independence a lot better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Grief, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence