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.

I had seen some reviews of The Maiden by Kate Foster, so when I had the chance of reading an arc of The King’s Witches, I was very excited. It tells the story of late sixteenth witch fears and phobias. Princess of Denmark has been chosen to marry King James of Scotland and so unite the two countries. Shortly before leaving Denmark, she is made to watch the burning of a so-called witch. This distresses her greatly. When the vessel on which she was travelling to Scotland was caught in a storm and developed a leak, it was diverted to Norway. King James arrived to fetch her and the party eventually arrived safely in Scotland. Anna was betrothed to James but had to accept the Scottish tradition of handfasting. If she failed to have a proposal of marriage by him, she would be sent as a nun to an abbey back in Denmark. The story goes on to tell of the paranoia about witches, the cruelty used to make them confess and the consequences for them and those implicated in their confession. We also have romance added to keep the reader intrigued. Finally Anna has to decide what will be best for her future life.
I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who has even the slightest interest in the Scottish, or indeed any, witch trials.
Thank you to NetGalley, Pan MacMillan and Kate Foster for an arc of this super story.

I loved this book!

The story is so interesting and it's super easy to read. I really like to read books set in these time period.

What was great and I made me very happy, is that at the end of the book, author explained what history events were used, which characters were real, which ones not, and which ones were not real but similar to real ones. What events happened and what was changed.

Partial use of language fitting the time and area was also nice, though as someone who is not native English speaker, I was very grateful for Kindle's dictionary to explain some words.

Before this book, I knew very little of how Denmark was and what was happening there at this time, so it was very interesting to read and I am glad some of the focus was there.

Thank you Kate Foster for writing this great book and thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

An excellent historical fiction that mixes witch hunt and court intrigue. A fascinating and well plotted story.
The plot is well done and the storytelling excellent. I like the fleshed out characters and the plot is both informative and engaging.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I was hooked from the very beginning of "The King's Witches" by Kate Foster. The story follows three women - Princess Anna of Denmark, Kirsten Sorenson, and Jura - as they navigate the treacherous world of 16th-century Scotland. As someone who loves historical fiction, I was immediately drawn in by the richly detailed setting and the compelling characters.
I loved how the book explored the relationships between the women, particularly the bond between Anna and Kirsten. Their friendship is a beacon of hope in a world that is often cruel and unforgiving. And then there's Jura, who is struggling to find her place in a society that is stacked against her. Her story is both heartbreaking and uplifting, and I found myself rooting for her from the start.
One of the things that really stood out to me about this book was its portrayal of the witch trials in Scotland. It's a little-known period of history, and I was fascinated by the way Foster brought it to life. The author's writing is evocative and immersive, and I felt like I was right there with the characters as they navigated the treacherous landscape of witchcraft accusations and trials.
The characters in this book are complex and multi-dimensional, and I loved getting to know them as I read. Anna is a strong and determined princess, but she's also vulnerable and scared. Kirsten is wise and compassionate, but she's also hiding secrets. And Jura is a sweet and gentle soul, but she's also fiercely determined to survive.
Overall, I would highly recommend "The King's Witches" to anyone who loves historical fiction, strong female characters, or just a good story. The writing is beautiful, the characters are compelling, and the story is both heartbreaking and uplifting.

Kate Foster has delivered another brilliant story that oozes excitement and high anticipation. I was happy to be approved for this book and I read in one sitting. The character development Kate Foster masters in her books builds a close relationship so as a reader it’s easy to become involved with characters and have a strong affection for outcomes.
Anbreen amazing read with strong emotional and unbearable character that you can’t help but love!

#Netgalley #KateFoster #TheKingsWitches

This story opens in September 1589, at the port of Leith, just outside Edinburgh. The King’s betrothed , Princess Anna of Denmark, is on her way for the marriage ceremony, when her fleet of ships are caught up in a tremendous storm.
Jane Kennedy, who served his late mother, Mary, Queen of Scots has been chosen to greet his bride, but the boat was caught up as well, and she drowned. Not an auspicious start ,which leads to rumours that Witchcraft was used to conjure up this storm.
King James the first was afraid of the power of Witchcraft. This fear manifested itself and led to women and some magicians being imprisoned, tortured, and burnt at the stake. The King decided to research the habits and customs of these unfortunates, and encourages the practice of witch hunting.
In 1590, 300 Scottish witches were tried for plotting the murder of their King. The North Berwick witch trials accused many of raising storms at sea to sink his ship and attempting to drown him. The King eventually published his research and findings upon the subject in a book, titled Daemonologie, which was published in 1597.
A very informative and somewhat gruesome account of torture measures and punishment exacted upon these so called witches.
I think King James needed to look closer to home for the cause of his guilty conscience, he was well known for enjoying the company of young men in his bed, this might have caused him greater torment instead.
My thanks to Netgalley and Pan MacMillan for my advanced copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review. A five star read. I will leave copies to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication.

Set in the sixteenth century Kronberg Denmark and Scotland.
Princess Anna daughter of the late King Frederick of Denmark and Norway, is to be betrothed to King James VI of Scotland.
Anna is being taught and prepared to be a good wife, and to unite the countries together.
How does young Anna feel about this? Does she have any choice?

I really enjoyed reading this historical fiction book which is based around some real characters, written from the point of view of the author how things could have happened and been perceived from a female perspective.
Three main female characters, Anna, Kirsten and Jura.
It has the witch craft and witch hunting of that era running throughout the book.
Such a good book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.

Foster's novel stands up to The Maiden: she's clearly carving herself a niche in this area, and doing it well. It's not *flawless* but I highly enjoyed it and I'll be recommending it to others!

Witch trials are already a tense, dramatic theme for a book. If you mix in James VI of Scotland; his paranoid but zealous approach to hunting witches down; his desire to implicate his cousin, Earl of Bothwell, in using witches to plot-(however fantastical and unlikely) ; the uncertainty surrounding his handfasting to the Danish Princess Anne and you have a totally gripping tale.

There are stormy waters in this book and reaching a safe harbour is never guaranteed The cast of characters are brilliantly drawn and the way the threads of each life are drawn together keeps you reaching for the next chapter. The lives of Kirsten and Jura were particularly intriguing - their stories are very immersive and you desperately want things to work out well for these characters.

Themes of resilience and the power of female bonds stand out.

A fantastic read that stays with you long after all the plot twists have played out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC to review. I will be adding Kate Foster to my list of must-buy authors!

A really enjoyable read which begins with Princess Anna of Denmark's sea journey to Scotland after her handfasting to James VI of Scotland in 1589. It goes on to highlight the witch hunts prevalent in Scandinavia and Scotland around that time. I was aware of the North Berwick witch hunts but was very interested to find that similar persecutions were occurring in Scandinavia. As a midwife I've always been interested in the way women who heal are seen as a threat to men and the patriarchy in general. Kate Foster mixes fact and fiction very nicely to create a book which has no problem holding the readers interest and attention throughout. Her historical research appears thorough and any discrepancies are explained in her notes at the end. An excellent book that I'm happy to recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed "The Maiden" by Kate Foster so I was keen to support her latest work - "The King's Witches". Told from the perspectives of Anna of Denmark, her maid and a seemingly unconnected young woman, Jura in North Berwick, this weaves a wonderful story of Princess Anna's ill-fated trip across the sea to join her future husband, King James VI of Scotland. What I really liked is that it fills in many of the gaps for me regarding the witch trials of Europe and the UK. It mentions those of Trier which I've only recently heard of, the Scandinavian witches and how this mania travelled across to Scotland. It doesn't focus on the torture or burning side of the witch trials but focuses on just a few characters and how they narrowly avoid the pyre. The ending is quite satisfying too.

I, like so many, absolutely adored Kate's previous book The Maiden, and was so happy to see it placed on the longlist for the Women’s Prize for fiction. I was so eager to see her follow-up and this sounded really good.

For some reason, I did initially think it was going to be about Macbeth and the witches. I don't know why, as it doesn't say anywhere that it is, but that was my immediate assumption. I saw Scotland and royalty and witches and came up with Shakespeare. That would have been an interesting book to read but this book is no less stunning for not meeting my initial assumption.

Kate's grasp of historical writing is absolutely phenomenal. I love a historical novel, especially about strong women, and this is what she brings with great aplomb.

Whilst I'm very open as to who I read, and I love discovering new authors, there are certain authors I go to for specific things: Laura Purcell for gothic novels, Lisa Jewell for thrillers, Heidi Swain for romance, that sort of thing, and I think Kate has become my top author for historical novels, and that's only two books in!

You can really put yourself into this story. You can feel yourself there, smell the salt on the sea, hear the rumours flying down the corridors, see the world around you. It is all encompassing and you almost become one of the characters.

I admit I wasn't aware that Anne of Denmark was a real person, which makes this even more impressive, because not only does it need to be entertaining, it will need to be as historically accurate as possible, and from what I can tell (I did go into a Google black hole), she's mastered that well.

It is an historical novel obviously, but there's action and adventure, fantasy, magic, romance, thriller - it's got something for everyone. It's about royalty, witches, friendship, it's about strangers, family, love, fear, desire, secrets, and about control.

It is such a rich book, so full of depth on every page, with so many layers. She's got such a grasp on the human language to evoke feelings of love, fear, hate, peril, beauty, and jealousy. It is moving in so many different ways.

There are moments in this book that made me so angry. I know it was a different time, and in the 1500s men were King (literally and figuratively) and women did as they were told. But this goes beyond that, into the realms of torture and harm and it's rage inducing. I know it's only a book, but the idea of thee kind of things happening, you just wish you could enter their world and put a stop to it.

This is definitely a worthy follow-up of The Maiden. She needn't worry about whether the second novel will live up to the first. This is eery bit as fabulous and has really whet my appetite for more.

Princess Anna of Denmark is preparing for her handfasting to King James of Scotland and then her subsequent journey to Scotland. But before that she's taken to witness the burning of a suspected witch. Haunted by this, she has premonitions and the journey across the sea is perilous. Her lady in waiting Kirsten is acting secretive and has her own reasons for wanting to visit Scotland. And them we have Jura, a herbalist and cunning woman, like her mother, who works for the Kincaid family.
This fabulous novel is based on the North Berwick Witch Trials in 1590's. We feel the suffering of the accused, and the betrayal of those in power. This is a great read for people who love historical fiction and witchery. My first book from the author but I will be looking out for more of her books