I didn’t know anything about the background of The Mercies, by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, when I started reading it although I was aware of the persecution of so called witches. This is a beautifully written, heart-wrenching tale with some evocatively descriptive passages. I so felt for Ursa with what amounted to a marriage of her father’s convenience. Her journey from Bergen to take up a new life in on the tiny and rather hostile environment of Vardø aboard a cargo ship was a portent of what was to come. And then there are Maren, Kirsten and Hanna, a triumvirate of strong, resourceful women who, in their different ways, try to survive in their straightened circumstances without men. This story is as harsh as its setting but is a captivating read. Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC.

It’s the moment for stunning covers on books!

The Mercies looked enticing from the start. That cover, yes but also the first few lines of chapter one;

‘The storm comes in like a finger snap. That’s how they’ll speak in the months and years after, when it stops being only an ache behind their eyes and crushing at the base of their throats. When it finally fits into stories.’

Well this is that story…The Mercies is inspired by real events and looks at the events of the small community of Vardø and the aftermath of a terrible storm. This all happened in 1617 so history comes back to life and more in this book. After the storm destroyed everything, only the women were left and so they had to take on responsibility, roles they’d never played before and completely change what was expected of women at a very different time to now. The book follows the story of Maren and Ursa, one from the island and the other who moves to it. Ursa’s husband is to be the one responsible for bringing religious order and faith to the island community.

If that is not enough, men then accuse the women of witchcraft and sorcery. Women who took on the roles, the strength of the men left behind and were taunted for it. Free thinking was punished and if they proved to be strong and independent, why, there must be something supernatural about it!

What a story! It immediately grabbed my attention. The fact it was based on a real life case I’d never heard of intrigued me from the start. Then it was the story of the two women, one already there and one newly arrived. It’s the whole story of outsiders and a small island community. Then when you add the weather, the unique Norwegian atmosphere and landscape and it’s a vivid, and immersive reading experience. The prose is simple and sparse, ethereal and lyrical which matches the story very well indeed. You have to read slowly to soak in the subtlety of the entire novel.

A rich tapestry of a read set against a bleak background.

The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Firstly I want to say how strongly I recommend this book. It is a powerful story with amazing strong women. It is set in Vardo in Norway 1617 and is based around true events. It opens with a description of Maren observing the killing and cutting up a whale. The men of the village then set off to sea and there is a terrible storm which kills the 40 men of the village. The women are left to fend for themselves and develop their skills at fishing and survival. They have so little to live on that nothing can be wasted; fish meat is salted to preserve it whilst the fish bones are made into such items as needles and combs.
The women manage to survive until three years later Absalom Cornet arrives from Scotland with his young wife, Ursa. She is fascinated by these strong women, who are surviving without men, but her husband is determined to bring God to this godless place and destroy the evil which he perceives as witchcraft. It is a powerful feminist novel which I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend. Many thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

On Christmas Eve in 1617, almost the entire male population of the tiny fishing village of Vardo, Norway, is lost in a terrible storm. Left behind in grief, the women of the village have to find a new way to survive.

Eighteen months later, their fragile new order faces a terrible threat in the form of Absalom Cornet, a Scottish witchfinder. His religious fervour has no place for independent women, and the horrors of the storm will seem like a mercy compared to what’s ahead…

This is a beautifully written, wonderfully evocative piece of writing. The author captures so much of the lives and hardships, the fear and jealousy, and unexpected passions. However, even though I was engrossed, this is far from an easy read. It is deeply unsettling – as it should be, given that it’s based on real events. History was rarely kind, and this is some of the worst: women deemed ‘unnatural’ for stepping into so-called men’s roles, forced to for survival and damned for it anyway. The horror of the ‘righteous’ and their wielding of power.

And so, while I praise the writing, I can’t wholly recommend the read: it’s dark, it’s terrifying. Hopefully not too much of a spoiler, but I’d hoped for more of a sense of redemption, somehow. Overall: powerful, but not a little upsetting.

Having only read Hargrave’s fiction for younger readers I was unsure quite what to expect of this. The subject immediately made me think of The Crucible and I was intrigued by the remote physical setting and the historical setting. Having just finished, I am struck by the immersive quality to this. It caught me quite unawares and I have to say that for such an unpleasant subject it was a pleasure to read.
The book begins relatively slowly. We’re introduced to the islanders and we begin with the depiction of the dreadful storm that killed all but a handful of men. Watching Maren and the other women as they realise their husbands/sons/brothers are never coming home was a heart-wrenching moment. Knowing that from this point forwards they would have to find ways to live with the unimaginable immediately created sympathy with their experience, which certainly helps when we see what is in store for them.
I have been fascinated by the posts Hargrave has shared on Twitter showing her visit to the place which inspired this read. It was remote, and it reminded me of the books I've read about life on places such as St Kilda. Even in the modern world such places are remote, and it takes a certain mindset to survive in such conditions. To do so in the time in which this story is set must have been tough.
Following the details we're given about the island women I was unsure why we suddenly switched to the character of Ursa, the daughter of a shipowner who lives in relative ease in Bergen. When her father organises a marriage to Absalom Cornet we learn that Ursa is to become the wife of this man she's never met before - a man sent from Scotland to travel to Vargø and investigate the lives of the women left behind.
Although we're told this focuses on the real-life events on Vardø and the witch trials of 1621, the sense of unease created once Ursa arrives on the island was distinctly uncomfortable. Seeing this young girl struggle to develop as she becomes little more than the property of her husband was uncomfortable. Though she grows closer to Maren it doesn't take long before relationships fracture and the hunt begins.
Once the details of the witch hunt were in the open, Hargrave holds little back in depicting the true horror of this time. At the time of reading I was struck by the obvious pride felt by Absalom and others at what they were doing. Seeing the way the women turned on each other was definitely uncomfortable, and yet there were little glimpses of positivity in the way Maren and Ursa turned to each other and sought comfort where they could.
This is one of those stories that I could imagine reading again, delighting in the depiction of setting and characters. It is both brutal and tender. The ending left many questions, but it also served to resolve some of the concerns raised. I can't wait to see what others I know make of this.

I was already a fan of Kiran Millwood Hargrave so how much I love this book is no surprise to me. This is a beautiful, lyrical story of female strength, friendship and love. The characters are fantastic and you will find yourself completely immersed in this book in a matter of pages. Perfection.

I love Norway, so I am always drawn to books set there, never mind that the book is set in the time of witch hunters, so I was really looking forward to this book.

This story is part historical - on Christmas Eve 1617, 40 fishermen are drowned in a sudden storm off the coast of Vardo, a remote island, leaving the women to fend for themselves. News is sent, and a few month later, a Commissioner, with his new wife Ursa arrive to bring the women to heel, and bring god back to them...through seeking out witches

Ursa has always lived a privileged life and struggles with her tiny new house, and the untrusting nature of the women, along with a husband who seems not to care about her and just wants to pray constantly - and of course, seek out witches.

I thought this book plodded along quite gently and nicely, and I was wondering what I would actually say about it in my review until it all came to a climax at the end, the story lulls you in nicely, and then picks up pace, and draws you in, leaving you unable to put it down.

All in all, I enjoyed this book, it didn't blow me away, but i did enjoy it, and I felt that I knew all of the characters very well.

1617. Norway. A group of women stand, bracing the harsh winds of a sudden storm, as they stare out at sea and watch the broken bodies of their men fling themselves to shore. The only males now left in their society are the very young or the very old; those who did not brave the fickle beast called nature and lose. They are isolated and must rely on themselves and each other if they are to survive the brutal land they call home.

A year passes but grief still lies thick upon their skin. The women have taken up their former roles as well as those of the men they lost but have not forgotten. But this is not the Christian way. And the so-called messengers of Him will ensure they pay for their transgressions.

Although told through fictional characters, The Mercies relays the very real story of the Vardø storm and the subsequent 1621 witch trials. The fear of the other looms like a distant storm cloud, throughout the entire narrative, closing in as the story breaks, with horror, sorrow and the despicable acts inflicted by humans to each other, along with it.

This tale was largely a slow-moving one. It is told through a series of subtle glances and the brush of skin upon skin. It relays a history of people, a culture losing its grip to religion, and the dark deeds of man through quiet interactions and long silences. I got to know the women of this community before I grew to know their so-called sins. And this was largely the point of the book.

Females dominate this community and the novel, and yet they are never the ones who are the deciders of their own future fates. They are never the ones who have dominion over their community, their land, or even their bodies. One male presence is enough to dispel any illusions of this. For to be born male is to be born with power, and to be born powerful is to learn how to abuse it.

Having studied witchcraft in literature for my MRes I was immediately drawn to this book - and I wasn't disappointed. The characters and their bleak existence are so well drawn and the dreadful inevitability of their fate is handled perfectly. Loved it.

This story is based on the real events of the storm in 1617, the story builds to a witch hunt and the happenings that lead to the women being persecuted. Well written and shocking to think it’s partly based on fact,

“Oh god have mercy upon us. We have begun it, and cannot end it….”

The Mercies tells the tale of the women of Vardo as they come to terms with the loss of all the men from their village in an horrendous storm and how suspicion can twist through a community turning one against the other.

Loosely based on real life events and the witch trials of 1621 this book gripped me from the start. The descriptions of the landscape and such a different way of life were vivid. The impact of the storm as a catalyst to change the way of life for the community and break apart families and neighbours through faith and fear are told through the voices of Maren who has lived in the village all her life and Ursa, a newcomer married to the new Commissioner.

I am a big fan of any type of historical fiction and would look out for books from this author in the future.

A terrible storm off a remote Norwegian island, in 1621, kills all of the menfolk in one village, leaving the women to fend for themselves at the same time as they are caught up in witch trials.

I'm not usually one for reading 'magical' books but this was different, as it's about witchcraft and the magic that is there is a true belief of the women.

You really feel the sense of isolation and menace in this book, I couldn‘t put it down. My only (small) gripe would be that I want to know what happened to the two MCs afterwards, but that could have been a whole other book!

‘The Mercies’ is Hargrave’s debut adult novel, and very promising if her Young Adult fiction is anything to go by. Inspired by real events and places, Hargrave transports the reader to Norway, 1617, where the death of forty men at sea – husbands, brothers, fathers, lovers – leaves the small fishing village of Vardo shocked and stunned. What follows is the story of how the remaining women manage, as they are now the only residents, along with those men who were too old or too young to fish. Under a pall of grief, after losing her father, brother and fiancé, Maren Magnusdatter tries to make sense of her life, along with those around her. How will they cope? Who will provide for them? Some seek solace from God, for He surely has a plan?

Ursa is a young woman, living with her sister and widowed father in Bergen. With no choice in the matter, Ursa is married off to Commissioner Cornet, a Scotsman who has been brought to Norway to help King Christian stamp out heathen behaviour and to punish those suspected of witchcraft. Together they travel to Vardo, where the Commissioner has been tasked with rooting out any witches and suspicious behaviour. On their arrival, Maren helps Ursa from the boat, and this leads to a friendship that will save both of them from a terrible future.

The bleak Norwegian setting and eerie atmosphere complement each other, as religious fervour and malicious accusations start, and end in a shocking climax. A great debut adult novel, definitely one to watch.

The Mercies is a fictionalisation of real life events on Vardo, an island off the Northern coast of Norway. On Christmas Eve 1617, the fishing boat went down taking almost all the men of the island with it. Left to fend for themselves, the women take on the roles formerly carried out by the men, apparently with the blessing of the pastor. Some of the more pious women grumble, but some of the women positively thrive in the environment. Kirsten, a tall and muscular woman, finds trousers quite practical; Diinna, a Sami woman, sees the opportunity to stay away from the chapel and draw on the traditions of her heritage. 

But this way of life collides head on with authority when a dour Scots presbyterian, Absolom Cornet, is appointed to come to Vardo as the new commissioner and get the women back into line. He got the gig because of his expertise in finding and dealing with witches. And when witch-hunters come to town, they find witches. 

But with Absolom comes Ursa, a young woman from Tromso who had the misfortune to be in Absolom's line of sight when he was looking for a wife to accompany him to the island. Ursa has no experience of running a household - her family had servants for that - so she finds guidance in wifely skills from Maren, one of the islanders. 

This is a story about witch hunts, yes, but there are also themes of social class, feminism, urbanism and racism. The dual narrative lines - from both Maren and Ursa's perspective  - is confusing at first (it is not completely clear that Ursa has no initial connection to Vardo - but once the storylines start to intersect it becomes a powerful device. 

The depiction of everyday life in 17th Century Norway is convincing; it is spartan but there are still recognisable social values - bitching about floorspace and food, petty jealousies. The land is evoked well, the weather, the hardships. And there is also love between women - not just the close friendship between Maren and Ursa, but also suggestions of sexual affection. 

The novel's ending is satisfying and brutal, albeit the story sort off eclipses some of the more observational work that is the real strength of The Mercies. 

Overall, this is a solid read - not spectacular but perfectly readable.

A fab, brutishly cold and chilling tale set in a small island in Norway, showing the effects of a collision of religion and witchcraft. 3.5 Stars

An emotional book that brings us into the 17th century, on a small and remote Norwegian island. When all the men die at sea, the women are just trying to survive. But not everyone respects their strength and independency, and King James' witch hunt extends even to this God-forsaken place.

Kiran Hargraves' first adult novel is a real tour-de-force. Her characters are deeply human, and the relationships between them grow at the same time as the reader's understanding. Maren became for me a real friend, someone I felt I knew and loved. Ursa is the perfect counterpart for her and the alternation between the 2 points of view gives us a unique perspective of the situation.

Because "The Mercies" may be a book about religion and feminism, but it is foremost about a time and a place that no one should have experienced - and that Hargraves re-creates for us using a terrible, magical and poetic atmosphere.

Similar to: "The Familiars" and "The Sealwoman's Gift".

This book is inspired by the real events of the Vardø storm and the 1621 witch trials.

Maren Magnusdatter comes from Vardø it's Christmas Eve 1617 and she and the rest of the women from this remote Norwegian Island have just watched as a storm has wiped out all the menfolk.

They are left griefstricken and at a loss to how to carry on with their everyday lives. Eventually when they realise that help isn't very forthcoming from other places and that they need to fend for theirselves they pull together and some of the women start to do the men's job of fishing which doesn't go down too well with some of the kirke women.

Eighteen months later Absalom Cornet and his young wife Ursa come to the Island. Absalom, a devout christian, who was involved with the witch trials in Scotland sees Vardø as a place infected with evil and it's his job to root it out.

Although the story recounts the witch trials it's more a story of the lives of these women and the friendship that evolves between Maren and Ursa. It's wonderfully descriptive of how different both their lives were to begin with and how being different along with fear, ignorance and mass hysteria can lead to persecution.

I loved the authors style of writing, it made this a hauntingly beautiful read.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan, Picador for the ARC

I've spent the last week in another world: that of a remote island off the coast of Norway in 1617, when a terrible storm killed all of the men from the island as they were fishing on Christmas Eve. The women are at first lost and slowly begin to learn how to live without the men, until word gets out of this unique sounding storm and the women left behind, and a Scottish witchhunter comes to live in the island... This is not only the plot of #TheMercies, but the history of a real event on the island of Vardo which resulted in several "witches" being burned at the stake. Kiran Millwood Hargrave's masterful reimagining of this event gives voice to the women of the island,and in the voice of Maren and the witchfinder's reluctant wife Ursa, creates a moving, beautiful account of two brave women living lives that seem to be beyond their control. In each other, they find a connection neither thought was possible, and it is a spark of light in the otherwise desolate island, but this attraction feels all the more dangerous as all of the women being watched so carefully, some of them hysterical in their fear and piousness. This is unlike any book I've read, and I cannot recommend it enough. It reminded me of reading Queen of Coin and Whispers in its skillful world building and The Minaturist and Burial Rites in its brilliantly character driven plot that is rooted in history I am unfamiliar with. It is historical fiction that feels more like fantasy, since I know nothing about this time and place, and it completely captured my imagination and won over my heart. I can't wait for everyone to read this as soon as it comes out

I seem to inadvertently be reading books about witch trials these days (subconsciously drawn to them, perhaps?). They were such a fascinating, brutal part of history: women literally burnt for not conforming to how men - using the guise of religion to carry out their disgusting deeds - wanted them to be.

Last year I read The Familiars by Stacey Halls, set in the same time period (1612 / 1617) as The Mercies and also about the witch trials of the time. The main difference is that where The Familiars focused on the infamous Pendle witch trials, The Mercies takes us to a remote Scandinavian island, Vardø.

As well as the witch trials, which are historical fact, this story throws in another fascinating real life element. On Christmas Eve 1612, a huge storm appeared out of nowhere and wiped out a majority of the male population of Vardø island, who were all out fishing at the time. This left an island of mainly women, fending for themselves in a time when women didn't do that.

This gives us a very enticing setting and Kiran Millwood Hargrave uses her storytelling powers to craft two lead female characters you care about from the second you first meet them. Maren is a native Vardø woman who lost her father, brother and betrothed in the storm and Ursula is the wife (not that she had any say in it) of the newly appointed commissioner, Absalom Cornet. Absalom is sent to Vardø to install some order on an island seemingly run by women. He is a religious man and it's not long before he identifies the women who are going to cause him a problem...

I was immediately swept up in this novel, The Mercies has a huge heart to it, in both its plot and the way it's so lyrically written. Alongside that, it blends fact and fiction seamlessly to tell a shocking story of female persecution. Thoroughly recommend this!

Norway in the 1600s. The weather is harsh and the land is unforgiving. The men go out to fish. One day, a sudden storm comes up from nowhere and 40 men are killed; husbands and sons all gone. The women must be strong and fend for themselves but strong women are not to be encouraged in the 1600s and the kirke is an unforgiving place. Into this mix comes the new Commissioner and his wife, he is a renowned witch hunter and she a frightened young lady from Bergen, torn from those she knows and loves. When she meets Maren Bergensdatter and a new friendship blossoms, Ursa feels things could change in her life. Be careful what you wish for...

I did like this book, I love the Scandinavian countries and historical novels in this setting rarely disappoint. Maren and the other Vardo women are amazing characters and it's easy to imagine why they did what they did, in fact they were clearly left with no other choice.

I did like Ursa and her story and again, can easily imagine how it came about.

My only slight niggle was that the portraits of the men were not as fleshed out as those of the women. The book is clearly centred on the women, it's their story after all, but the men appear almost as shadows in the background whilst having such an enormous effect on what happens and I would like to have seen their characters, particularly that of Absalom, given a little more rounding.

If you like Scandinavian history novels I think you'll really like this and I would most definitely recommend it if you do.