A really fascinating glimpse into late 16th-century Scotland and Denmark, as a fear of witches and sorcery sweeps across Northern Europe. Told through multiple perspectives including Anna, the Princess of Denmark who is betrothed to King James VI of Scotland, her Danish attendant, and a Scottish maid whose mother was a local healer, we learn how religious fervor in certain parts of Protestant Europe led to persecution of mainly women who were deemed to be witches, able to cause illness, death, storms, and crop failures. Very well written and engaging, like all good historical fiction based on fact but with added intrigue and twists. I will definitely look out for Kate Foster's other works.

The Kings Witches by Kate Foster takes place in the late 16th century at the beginning of the witch trials in Scotland.

I have read many books on the witch trials and I have to say this is one of the more tame ones I have read in terms of the details of extracting confessions etc. it is hinted at rather than being explicitly stated.

It was slow paced but enjoyable and quite quick to read. I would definitely read other books by this author.

Anna of Denmark is to marry the King of Scotland but he is afraid of witchcraft and there have been witch burnings in her homeland. When her ship is forced to turn back by a wild storm, there are many that blame witchcraft. Anna's companion, Kristin, is also very keen to get to Scotland but will not say why. As Anna tries to reconcile love and duty, Kristin tries to protect her child and poor young Jura becomes the centre of wild accusations about a plot to kill the king.
The paranoia of James I around witchcraft and demonology is well-known and the North Berwick witch trials have been explored in a number of recent novels but this is a great story. Foster has built a compelling fiction around a little fact and it works incredibly well. Probably the least believable part is that of Kristin and Jura's relationship but as a narrative driver it's acceptable. A very readable novel.

Queen or nun?
1589 Anna princess of Denmark, embarks on a hazardous voyage to Scotland to marry King James VI, she is accompanied by her lady in waiting, Kirsten, a strict woman who is dedicated to Anna's marriage.The alternative. To the marriage is that Anna will return home and become a nun at Hellebaek Abbey.
In Scotland there is an outcry against witches and many cunning women are caused and burnt at the stake. Jura's Mother is one of these. In desperation Jura asks for a job as housemaid to the Kincaid family, she is accepted and has to put up with advances from the Master of the house. Just in turn is accused of witchcraft, she manages to run away to her Aunts house in Canongate but is spotted in the crowd by Kincaid.
Anna is handfasted to King James and waits to conceive a child so that he will marry her.
This is a story of passion, unjust accusations and violence, I was captivated by it.
Thank you NetGalley,Kate and Mantle or this ARC.

‘The King’s Witches‘ is inspired by the witch trials that gripped Scotland in the sixteenth century. It is told through the eyes of three women whose lives may be vastly different, but who ultimately might need to save each other, and themselves. Part history, part fiction, this is the kind of story that will always enthral my historical fiction loving heart.

Anna, Princess of Denmark, is on her way to Scotland to marry King James VI. First she will need to pass a trial period. One year of marriage in which to prove herself worthy of being a Queen. Anna was raised to do exactly that. Except nobody counted on her meeting Lord Henry. It’s hard not to feel for Anna. At the age of 17, her life has been planned out for her since childhood. She has no options, no choices. It has been determined for her that she will marry James and her only job in life is to produce heirs. But what if she doesn’t?

By her side, we find Kirsten, her loyal companion. She seems to have her very own reasons for wanting to get to Scotland and it’s quite clear she’s hiding something. Kirsten is rather hard to warm to. She’s a tough nut to crack, and even though along the way you learn more about her, I never really got to that point where I liked her character.

Finally, there is Jura. She has recently lost her mother and is desperately trying to find a new life away from her alcoholic father. Jura is a healer, a skill she learnt from her mother. But in these treacherous times, healing might just as well be witchcraft to some. Will Jura find this new life she seeks, and will she be safe?

‘The King’s Witches‘ is a tale of superstition, fear of the unknown, and men’s cruel and cunning ways to make anything fit their narrative. Think torture “to get to the truth”. Think witchcraft to explain what can’t be explained; or simply what they don’t understand. How fitting that the devil only seeks out those poor weak women so man can show his strength and power.

Life at court has never seemed to me like something to aspire to. To be subjected to the whims of kings and those around them has never come across as something appealing. In Anna’s case, the threat doesn’t necessarily loom quite as large as some other queens found themselves subjected to. If she’s unable to produce an heir, she will simply be sent to live with nuns. But if she, Kirsten, and Jura find themselves caught up in this witch hunt, things will end up being far worse for all of them. That is where the tension lies.

It took less than one page for me to be completely transported to 1589, where the story begins. ‘The King’s Witches‘ is wonderfully descriptive and compelling. It depicts how fear and panic can cause events to spiral entirely out of control and put innocent people’s lives in danger. The combination with the never-ending intrigue at a royal court works extremely well. So maybe the initial topic isn’t an original one, but the execution most definitely is. If you enjoy reading about witch-hunts and witch trials but would like something a little different, then this is definitely for you.

This is the second book I’ve read by Kate Foster and she has found a new fan. I would quite happily recommend both this novel and her previous one, ‘The Maiden‘, and I’m adding her name to my list of go-to authors. Recommended!

#ad @netgalley eARC. But, I went on to buy the hardback myself!

What a fabulous read.  I get it, for some, there may have been too many books on historical witch hunts. Some may wonder if we need another... but I think there's plenty of room for a book like this.  This book is a wonderfully unique tale that focuses on some women around King James VI 's as his witch hunt obsession takes hold.

I loved reading about the fictional characters as much as those who are based on real-life historical characters.  Kate Foster discusses the historical manipulation she had to do to create this book in the notes, and it all worked wonderfully well together for me.

The story follows the King's betrothed, Princess Anna of Denmark's storm ridden journey to Scotland and King James' resulting obsession with catching witches. Through the women's eyes we see his mounting fear as he believes witches are being used by his enemies to take over the thrown or stop him becoming King of England and how it fuels his desire to root out all witches. The women who share their story are Jura, a maidservant of a Baillie who suffers at his hands, Princess Anna and her Lady in Waiting, Kirsten, who all have compelling stories to tell.

The writing is engaging,  the plot intruiguing, and I think this is an excellent work of Historical Ficion that asks us to consider who we believe and why we believe them. 

#bookreview #thekingswitches #katefoster

The second historical novel by Scottish author Kate Foster following her critically acclaimed “The Maiden” (2023) is an impressive work set in the late sixteenth century.
Central to the novel is Princess Anna of Denmark, betrothed to King James VI of Scotland at a time when paranoia regarding witchcraft was spreading through Europe and James’ rule is threatened by the Earl of Bothwell. Ferocious storms carrying Anna to Scotland are blamed on witchcraft with Bothwell deemed to be behind this supernatural plot.
It starts off very atmospheric and intense and reminded me of the historical novels of Hannah Kent. It is made up of three first-person narratives, one from Anna, another from her lady-in-waiting Kristen, who has previously visited Scotland and from Jura, a “cunning woman”, grieving the death of her mother who has passed on her knowledge of herbs and tinctures.
Behind the fiction is the historical fact that some 40-60,000 people in Europe were killed because they were said to have been witches between 1400-1782 and King James was known to have been obsessed by devilry and witchcraft which he believed was a serious threat to his god-given title. There’s going to be trouble in Scotland….
My interest in this book was piqued by the recent Sky TV series “Mary & George” (2024) which featured James and Anna in England and I found myself wanting to know more about their earlier lives (especially as looking at my family history has unearthed a possible direct descendant (Thomas Erskine) as a Groom Of The Stool for King James – a nobleman who was there to assist the king on the toilet, which is probably as prestigious as my family could get!)
Most of the elements in this novel are very good indeed. It is highly readable and I certainly wanted to know what would happen. The plot takes a turn with a pretty hefty coincidence which certainly opens out the fictional elements but which felt a little implausible to me but I can justify it by the world being a much smaller place in the 1590s to explain this.
Kate Foster has certainly enthralled me with her account of witchcraft and royalty and has me wanting to read “The Maiden”. Maybe I would have preferred a slightly stronger balance of historical fact amongst the fiction but there is no denying how involving this book was and how important to illuminate these issues, still centuries on, swathed in misinformation. In her Historical Note the author highlights from 2022 the then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon making an apology for the persecution of witches in Scotland’s past and the events in this novel certainly mark a surge in that persecution.
The King’s Witches is published on 6th June 2024 by Mantle, an imprint of Pan Macmillan. Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the advance review copy.

I requested this one as I’m feeling the historical fiction lately, plus there’s witches, plus the cover is beautiful.

Starting in Denmark with Princess Anna witnessing the burning of a witch, we follow as she travels to Scotland to marry King James VI, and are privy to all of the secrets and skullduggery surrounding the Scottish witch trials.

Another book of the year told from multiple perspectives, The King’s Witches flowed much better for me, and the different voices allowed a rich and deep story to be told. Throughout the book we’re brought along as Anna matures, as Jura finds herself, and as everything links in the pieces fit so perfectly it’s a marvel.

The underlying theme is very much the terror of how men control us. How they pick and prowl and push and accuse as soon as a woman doesn’t adhere to the strictest of boundaries. Were there ever any withches? Who truly knows? But there were women who’d stand up, who’d question, who’d disrupt, and they famously paid the ultimate price. They paved the way, and The King’s Witches ultimately feels like a celebration of that.

With beautiful details and rich language, deep conversations and flawless scene setting, The King’s Witches has propelled to the top of my favourites for the year. An absolutely beautiful read, with plenty of grit and emotion to boot.

Rating: ✨✨✨✨✨

An atmospheric historic novel, set against the backdrop of the Scottish witch trials of the 16th century and the reign on King James VI. We follow the perspectives of three women, all from different classes, but all facing the constraints, expectations, and violence that came with being a woman of this time. The speech style adjusted to each perspective making the change in point of view easy to follow and the novel was beautifully written.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in exchange for a novel.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this eCopy to review

I enjoyed The King's Witches, it was a rich historical novel full of intrigue and secrets. There was a great cast of characters, and I liked how there were chapters from the 3 main women, they helped give more depth to the story.

The fear of the storm and witches is palpable, along with Princess Anna's fears that she might not please King James and not be married after her handfasting is complete, what will be her fate? Will Jura survive? Why did Kirsten want to return to Scotland so much? The vivid descriptions make this a compelling read

It is 1589. Princess Anna of Denmark is betrothed to James VI of Scotland. Along with her maid Kirsten, she must make the perilous sea crossing. Witch hunts have started in Denmark, and as violent storm prevent Anna from initially reaching her destination, fear of witchcraft reaches Scotland. So begin the trials, with young Jurra Craig from North Berwick the focus of King James and his witch hunter. Can Anna and Kirsten stop the fear and the violence, and save a life?

This was a really strong historical fiction novel, told from the perspectives of our three main characters: Anna, Kirsten and Jurra. All three women are incredibly strong, with their own personalities. The way they become woven together makes this a compelling narrative.
A lot of research went in to this book, and while in the author's note the author does say they adjusted some details to fit the narrative, it is clear that a lot of passion went in to presenting these events faithfully.
I struggled at points with the language in Jurra's sections. She spoke with local dialect words, and I would have appreciated a glossary so I could better follow what she was saying. I did like seeing this in the narrative though, as it served to set Jurra apart as her own character and brought historic Scotland to life.
This was a great piece of historical fiction, reimagining a devastating event in a compelling and emotional way.

Witches, the Scottish court and forbidden romance make for an interesting mix. And in theory it was interesting, but the changing points of view, "Scottish" voice in the writing and the constant dwell on pregnancy were all a let down for me.

I'm not a fan of changing points of view at the best of times and this book has three storytellers. I found Anna boring and childish, perhaps an intended character flaw as she is 17 and closeted princess. Jura (great name) was ok, but the writing in an attempt at Scottish dialect made it distracting. Kristen was the best, though I didn't like her in the beginning. Her story and voice was the strongest and great storyline.

This is a story about women and the wrongs they face at the hands of men. King James comes across as weak and bland. Henry, the love interest, bland and I didn't trust his intentions. Kincaid and the other men are the characters to detest for their actions, been easily lead and generally weak minded.

For me it was ok. I stuck with it to find out Jura's story.

Grab this for a weekend read with wine and a roaring fire.

Princess Anna Of Denmark is to be married to King James of Scotland, but the tradition demands that the bride must prove herself the first year before she can truly become his wife. A violent storm delays the outward journey and soon all noses are pointing in the direction of witchcraft. Anna's lady-in-waiting Kirsten has her own motives for returning to Scotland. And in Scotland, the young cunning woman Jura enters the service of a landowner who sees in her more than a maid.

The King's witches is Kate Foster's second book, but I haven't read her first book 'The maiden' yet. The book is told in three perspectives: Anna, Kirsten and Jura. That James IV of Scotland was very afraid of witchcraft is well known and the North Berwick witch trials is where it all starts. Those trials coincide with the beginning of his marriage to Anna. So this formed the setting of the book.

So much for real history, the rest of the story is rather fictional, both Jura and Kirsten never existed. The story is smoothly told, because of the three perspectives there is a lot of pace in the story and the fate of the three women is nicely interwoven. At the same time, the witch hunts and how they mainly targeted women (including gruesome torture) are covered, so it gives a nice picture of Stuart court in Scotland.

Perhaps not the most original story as I saw some things coming, but entertaining nonetheless. I enjoyed reading it and I might pick up The maiden or any of the next books Foster will write.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return of my honest opinion.

This book was everything I hoped it would be.
Recently, I have become fascinated by the accusations of witchcraft and I am reading any book, albeit fiction, based around the topic.
This is the best book I have read so far. I enjoyed The Maiden by Kate Foster, but I was obsessed by this book while I was reading it.
It is well researched, hugely gripping, and characters you fight for, and your heart breaks for.
Absolutely superb.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan for the copy.

After I read The Maiden by Kate Foster and really enjoyed it, I was looking forward to The King's Witches and it was even better than I could have hoped.

The topic wasn't new to me, having recently devoured many novels based on witch hunts in Europe and particularly Scotland I was familiar with the 'real' characters and the facts Foster's book was based on. However, she managed to transport me away completely and offered different angles that set this book apart from other witch-hunt novels.

The writing is so vivid and the characters were alive from the moment I 'met' them. I was right there with Kirsten, Anna and Jura. There was a huge twist that I honestly didn't see coming but that broke my heart. After that, I was more than 100% invested in the book and I think that was the reason that the ending felt just a tiny bit rushed, I didn't want it to end!

Kate Foster is now a definite must-read author and I look forward to whatever story she tells next.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this before publication in return for an honest review.

This was a very compelling read, told from the point of view of three women all who become embroiled in James 1’s witch hunts. In the words of Kirsten, “...when women are accused of wickedness, someone usually means them harm”. And The King’s Witches explores this idea of what it meant to be a woman accused of this wickedness in the 16th century,

I really liked the multi-narrative, as it combined three stories of women from different walks of life. From Danish royalty, to servitude, to the working class, the novel was full of varied voices which helped capture a rounded sense of the witch trials, and how class and gender made them vulnerable. Jura was a stand- out character, as she had a great voice and energy and was particularly endearing, which made the events which happened to her more emotive and hard-hitting.

Historically, this was a very well - executed account of the North Berwick witch trials of 1590. Foster captures a real sense of the mounting hysteria, superstition and lunacy that was the start of hundreds being executed for witchcraft. She captures James I well and his morbid obsession with sorcery, and how he and his advisors became swept up in the obsession.

The novel had a good flow, and although was hard to read at times because of the way witches were treated, was very readable and bingeable. The novel also delivers an unexpected twist which brought the story together.

Kate Foster was recently longlisted for "Maiden" and she follows that success up with "The King's Witches." This is not a sophomore slump as "The King's Witches" shows that Kate Foster is an exciting new writer of historical fiction. She takes The North Berick witch trials as her inspiration for the story of how men use witch hunts to control and murder women who dare not to be perfect angels. Foster interweaves this horrific event with the upcoming marriage of King James and Queen Anna.

Foster creates three strong female characters in the future Queen Anna, Jura the housemaid and healer, and Kirsten, Anna's lady-of-the-bedchamber. Through these women, Forster again looks at how women are always punished for daring to exist outside of a man. This is an exciting but infuriating novel because it's not only based on real-life events, but it's relevant to today's world where society is always on the lookout for "witches" to metaphorically burn at the stake.

There is some strong material here (sexual assault and torture) but Foster explores the violence perpetrated upon women by hypocritical men who revel in their power of women. It's not exploitative; it's illuminating but very rough to read (especially the descriptions of the torture devices). As in "Maiden," I kept reading until the very end because I needed to know what would happen to Kirsten and Jura as I know of Anna's ultimate fate. This is another fantastic book from Kate Foster! Highly recommended.

I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley.

Another excellent book from this author. That’s two that have been intriguing and very well written.

This book explores the early days of Anna of Denmark’s betrothal to King James of Scotland in the late 16th century. Anna has a perilous sea journey to reach Scotland, having to stop in Norway due to storms. Storms that are believed to have been caused by witches. Suspicion of witches is rife at this time and many women suffer in these witch hunts. Alongside Anna we also see chapters from Jura in North Berwick. A girl who makes charms and poultices just like her mother before her did and is just trying to get by. However she gets caught up in the unwanted gaze of a powerful man and she soon finds her harmless charms being treated as malicious.

We explore how dangerous it is to be a woman at this time. How little power they have. Women once accused can do very little to clear their names. The speed at which the intensity of the witch-hunts increase is frightening. We also explore desire in the face of duty, particularly in the storyline of both Anna and James.

This author is excelling at historical fiction, building intrigue and excitement whilst also providing a sympathetic character study of women caught in challenging and frightening situations. I will look out for more from them.

Was left with a feeling of profound sadness in the final pages of this novel. The lives, the lives of women both rich and poor controlled and shaped by society and the men around them.

Some excellent prose, particularly in the closing stages, but I felt some of the dialogues to be less polished. The story strolled along without any great deal of tension or pace and I feel that I didn’t really get to know the inner cores of the main characters.

An historical novel which shines a light on the plight of ordinary women be they ‘cunning’ or members of royal households. Worth a read as a reminder of that alone.

My favourite historical fiction book of the year so far.
It is truly the sign of a great writer, when you can relate to both a Scottish princess and a lowly disgraced housemaid in the same book.
The way Kate Foster combines real events and facts of Scottish history with fiction and plot, makes it so believable and immersive that you feel like you're part of it.
I tried my best to read it slowly, and make it last longer, but just couldn't put it down. This book is written in first person, from 3 different characters POVs, and the author brilliantly weaves their stories together throughout the book.
Also, as a big fan of historical fiction, I always appreciate a good historical note, which not many authors provide, but Kate Foster aced it in this book as well, where she sorts out fact from fiction.