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The Witches of Vardø
Norway, 1662. A dangerous time to be a woman, when even dancing can lead to accusations of witchcraft. When Zigri, desperate and grieving after the loss of her husband and son, embarks on an affair with the local merchant, it's not long before she is sent to the fortress at Vardø, to be tried and condemned as a witch.
Zigri's daughter Ingeborg sets off into the wilderness to try to bring her mother back home. Accompanying her on this quest is Maren - herself the daughter of a witch - whose wild nature and unconquerable spirit gives Ingeborg the courage to venture into the unknown, and to risk all she has to save her family.
Also captive in the fortress is Anna Rhodius, once the King of Denmark's mistress, who has been sent to Vardø in disgrace. What will she do - and who will she betray - to return to her privileged life at court?
These Witches of Vardø are stronger than even the King of Denmark. In an age weighted against them they refuse to be victims. They will have their justice. All they need do is show their power.
Zigri's daughter Ingeborg sets off into the wilderness to try to bring her mother back home. Accompanying her on this quest is Maren - herself the daughter of a witch - whose wild nature and unconquerable spirit gives Ingeborg the courage to venture into the unknown, and to risk all she has to save her family.
Also captive in the fortress is Anna Rhodius, once the King of Denmark's mistress, who has been sent to Vardø in disgrace. What will she do - and who will she betray - to return to her privileged life at court?
These Witches of Vardø are stronger than even the King of Denmark. In an age weighted against them they refuse to be victims. They will have their justice. All they need do is show their power.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 5, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 537 reviews
January 19, 2023
In a Nutshell: This was a mixed bag for me. The concept was great but the execution didn’t do the story much favour. Might work for those looking for an interesting plot without much bothering about character development or writing.
Story Synopsis:
Where the book worked for me:
💐 There are some amazing folklore tales interspersed in between sections. I loved all of these.
💐 Through the Sami characters, the story reveals not just the Sami culture and beliefs, but also the issues faced by indigenous tribes due to the external rulers. This was the best part of the book.
💐 Some of the revelations about witch-hunts are impactful. (These would have worked even better for me had I not already read so many books about witch-hunts. Time for a break from this genre, methinks!)
💐 The story highlights the systemic misogyny and patriarchal mindset of that era. The blind belief in religion and royalty also comes out clearly.
💐 There is a section at the end called ‘Of Fact and Fiction’, which details out some of the persecution against women on accusations of witchcraft, and also contains a glossary.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
🌵 Many of the dialogues and scenes felt like they would work far better on screen than on page. The spoken lines and the character responses were overly dramatic. They felt fake rather than emotional.
🌵 Except for the Sami boy Zare, none of the characters felt likeable or acted sensibly. Some of the characters change their minds randomly just to change the direction of the plot.
🌵 I didn’t like Anna’s second person narration. Her arc was interesting, but as her whole track was addressed to the King, there were many revelations that didn’t make sense. Like, why would she tell the King how many children he had?! It was so silly! Her first person should have been kept as an indirect narration to the readers, thus providing a valid reason for the extensive flashbacks.
🌵 There is hardly anything happening for a great part of the story. A whole lot of energy goes in setting the scenes but there is hardly any action. It was too slow even on audio.
🌵 Maran’s track seems to have some “witchy” elements but these are neither explained nor explored well. They felt like a forced attempt to imbue magical realism into the plot.
The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 16.5 hrs, is narrated by Sofia Engstrand. She does a nice job voicing the characters distinctly. Her accent also works wonderfully in pronouncing the local names, thus adding a touch of authenticity to the recording.
I thought I would like this novel far more than I actually did. The topic is close to my heart, as is the genre. But the languid flow, the OTT writing, and the capricious characters ended up making this an average read for me. That said, it’s a debut work, and most of the problems above can be bettered with time and experience. So I wont dismiss this author just yet.
Most readers have loved this, so it is quite possible that you might too. Do check out other reviews and take a more informed decision.
2.5 stars, rounding up for the audio version.
My thanks to Bonnier UK Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “The Witches of Vardø”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
1662. Anna Rhodius, ex-mistress of the King of Denmark, has been banished to Vardø for some unknown reason. She is convinced that the only way out of the godforsaken island is to provide information to the local Governor about suspected witches, whom he is determined to remove.
Ingeborg’s mother Zigri has been arrested for being a witch. Along with her younger sister and the strange Maren (herself the daughter of a “witch”), Ingeborg sets out to rescue her mother from a deadly end.
How the tracks of the two women intersect and what happens to them forms the rest of the plot.
The book is written in the third person perspective of Ingeborg, and the first person perspective of Anna (addressed in second person to the King of Denmark.)
Where the book worked for me:
💐 There are some amazing folklore tales interspersed in between sections. I loved all of these.
💐 Through the Sami characters, the story reveals not just the Sami culture and beliefs, but also the issues faced by indigenous tribes due to the external rulers. This was the best part of the book.
💐 Some of the revelations about witch-hunts are impactful. (These would have worked even better for me had I not already read so many books about witch-hunts. Time for a break from this genre, methinks!)
💐 The story highlights the systemic misogyny and patriarchal mindset of that era. The blind belief in religion and royalty also comes out clearly.
💐 There is a section at the end called ‘Of Fact and Fiction’, which details out some of the persecution against women on accusations of witchcraft, and also contains a glossary.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
🌵 Many of the dialogues and scenes felt like they would work far better on screen than on page. The spoken lines and the character responses were overly dramatic. They felt fake rather than emotional.
🌵 Except for the Sami boy Zare, none of the characters felt likeable or acted sensibly. Some of the characters change their minds randomly just to change the direction of the plot.
🌵 I didn’t like Anna’s second person narration. Her arc was interesting, but as her whole track was addressed to the King, there were many revelations that didn’t make sense. Like, why would she tell the King how many children he had?! It was so silly! Her first person should have been kept as an indirect narration to the readers, thus providing a valid reason for the extensive flashbacks.
🌵 There is hardly anything happening for a great part of the story. A whole lot of energy goes in setting the scenes but there is hardly any action. It was too slow even on audio.
🌵 Maran’s track seems to have some “witchy” elements but these are neither explained nor explored well. They felt like a forced attempt to imbue magical realism into the plot.
The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 16.5 hrs, is narrated by Sofia Engstrand. She does a nice job voicing the characters distinctly. Her accent also works wonderfully in pronouncing the local names, thus adding a touch of authenticity to the recording.
I thought I would like this novel far more than I actually did. The topic is close to my heart, as is the genre. But the languid flow, the OTT writing, and the capricious characters ended up making this an average read for me. That said, it’s a debut work, and most of the problems above can be bettered with time and experience. So I wont dismiss this author just yet.
Most readers have loved this, so it is quite possible that you might too. Do check out other reviews and take a more informed decision.
2.5 stars, rounding up for the audio version.
My thanks to Bonnier UK Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “The Witches of Vardø”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
January 21, 2023
An exceptional book which both inspires and breaks your heart. Some incredible characters and an amazing sense of place and time. I cant think of a book with a more moving series of final chapters. I could not put this down and would highly, highly recommend.
December 8, 2022
After reading about the Salem witch trials and the Pendle witches, I jumped at the chance to read this book.
This is historical fiction steeped in historical FACT and OMG WHAT A READ!!!!!!
The date is 1622 and we are in Norway. A young widow Zigri embarks on a love affair that was doomed from the start. She was warned by the village that it would end badly but she was in love. One day she is arrested and charged with witchcraft and sent to the desolate island of Vardo where she would tried. Vigri is thrown into the witches hole and awaits her sentence. This is only the beginning. I was completely immersed in the story that was unfolding. A chilling and fascinating read. Written from the soul of this author. The trials were an attack on femininity, science and female empowerment. Compelling, heartbraking and a MUST READ!!!!!!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
This is historical fiction steeped in historical FACT and OMG WHAT A READ!!!!!!
The date is 1622 and we are in Norway. A young widow Zigri embarks on a love affair that was doomed from the start. She was warned by the village that it would end badly but she was in love. One day she is arrested and charged with witchcraft and sent to the desolate island of Vardo where she would tried. Vigri is thrown into the witches hole and awaits her sentence. This is only the beginning. I was completely immersed in the story that was unfolding. A chilling and fascinating read. Written from the soul of this author. The trials were an attack on femininity, science and female empowerment. Compelling, heartbraking and a MUST READ!!!!!!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
July 31, 2023
A mystical, compelling novel on the witch trials of Norway, and the strong, independent women who did not bow to the whims of men. Vivid and laced with folklore and nature, this novel is a window to the past, highlighting the fear of resourceful and confident women that still rings true today. The Witches of Vardø takes the ideas of power, love, and magic and weaves them into a compelling tale that is a wonder to read. The true history of these women is equally compelling; the heartbreaking reality of witch trials is an era that should not be forgotten. A powerful historical novel with well rounded female protagonists and beautiful imagery.
Read
January 13, 2024
March 19, 2023
It’s been established long ago that I’m a fan of novels that dip into the history of witches and witch trials, so this one was always going to be a winner for me. It’s quite a slow burn, as many of these stories tend to be. The groundwork needs to be laid, the characters’ lives fleshed out so we can see them day to day before we bear witness on how they go from ordinary women to accused witches awaiting trial and being tortured into making confessions to crimes they did not commit.
‘The Witches of Vardo is inspired by the very real and terrible events of witch hunts which took place on the island of Vardo between 1662 and 1663. A total of twenty women died as a result of witchcraft persecutions between October 1662 and April 1663. Eighteen were burnt at the stake and two were tortured to death.
During the witchcraft trials in Finnmark in northern Norway, during the seventeenth century, 135 persons were tried, 91 of whom were executed, most of them at the stake.’ – Author note (On Fact and Fiction).
The author relies heavily on history for this story, but it is in no way a dense read. She carefully charts a journey where it is demonstrated over and over, just how perilous it was to be a woman in the seventeenth century, particularly a widow or a midwife, intelligent, or even, heaven forbid, beautiful. It was certainly a man’s world and they ruled it with fear, blame, and recrimination.
‘There are no witches in our village, Ingeborg, but the Devil does exist. Look into the eyes of our accusers and you will see him there.’
This novel is unflinching in its portrayal of what awaiting a witch trial meant for the accused. The brutality was severe, the degradations, the inevitable outcome. It is not a novel for the fainthearted, yet it is also not gratuitous in its portrayal.
The Witches of Vardo is a must read for fans of this area of history. Highly recommended.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
‘The Witches of Vardo is inspired by the very real and terrible events of witch hunts which took place on the island of Vardo between 1662 and 1663. A total of twenty women died as a result of witchcraft persecutions between October 1662 and April 1663. Eighteen were burnt at the stake and two were tortured to death.
During the witchcraft trials in Finnmark in northern Norway, during the seventeenth century, 135 persons were tried, 91 of whom were executed, most of them at the stake.’ – Author note (On Fact and Fiction).
The author relies heavily on history for this story, but it is in no way a dense read. She carefully charts a journey where it is demonstrated over and over, just how perilous it was to be a woman in the seventeenth century, particularly a widow or a midwife, intelligent, or even, heaven forbid, beautiful. It was certainly a man’s world and they ruled it with fear, blame, and recrimination.
‘There are no witches in our village, Ingeborg, but the Devil does exist. Look into the eyes of our accusers and you will see him there.’
This novel is unflinching in its portrayal of what awaiting a witch trial meant for the accused. The brutality was severe, the degradations, the inevitable outcome. It is not a novel for the fainthearted, yet it is also not gratuitous in its portrayal.
The Witches of Vardo is a must read for fans of this area of history. Highly recommended.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
Read
July 8, 2023The Witches of Vardø is an unapologetically raw and intense novel about witch hunts and the persecution of women in pre-modern Europe.
Set in 1660s Norway, we follow two protagonists, Anna Rhodius and Ingeborg. Anna was once the secret mistress of the king of Denmark. Now, she has been exiled to a fortress on the island of Vardø.
Ingeborg’s mother, Zigri, lost her husband and son to a tragic storm while fishing, and she blames Ingeborg’s younger sister, Kirsten, for it. Witch fever can even turn women against each other and mothers against daughters.
My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/magical-books...
Set in 1660s Norway, we follow two protagonists, Anna Rhodius and Ingeborg. Anna was once the secret mistress of the king of Denmark. Now, she has been exiled to a fortress on the island of Vardø.
Ingeborg’s mother, Zigri, lost her husband and son to a tragic storm while fishing, and she blames Ingeborg’s younger sister, Kirsten, for it. Witch fever can even turn women against each other and mothers against daughters.
My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/magical-books...
March 2, 2023
As inspiration, this book takes real witch trials that happened in Norwegian Vardo in the 17th century. This topic interested me and I read a couple of books about witch hunts the last year. This book happens in the same setting The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave took place. And even though I didn't love The Mercies, reading this book made me value and appreciate it much more.
So. For me the tragedy of the witch-hunts is in this - people are so afraid of life, of our inability to control the events that we are always in search of simple answers or even someone to blame. And it's so easy to blame those who are different or who are weak or can't protect themselves. It's human nature and the thing we face in modern times too. So yes, hundreds of Saami people and Norwegian (mostly) women were burnt for the greater good by zealous people. It's always hurt to see how easy to persuade the crowd in any allegations if they make them feel better, and understand why bad things happened to them. Even those who were your friends and neighbors yesterday. This is a tragic, horrifying, and raw theme.
And this is the way I see it and I read beautiful and horrifying discussions of it in The Winternight Trilogy, The Glass Woman, and The Mercies. I hoped The Witches of Vardo would enrich my knowledge and experience with this topic, but it made me bored and angry instead.
This book follows two characters - Anna, the former king's mistress sent to Vardo in disgrace, and Ingeborg, whose mother was accused of witchcraft.
Regarding the boredom part - Anna's and Ingeborg's plotlines didn't intersect before 50% of the book and the real plot starts only after it. I wanted to DNF book at that point, but I sadly pushed through and I regret it.
To the angry part - This book felt like the simplification of these themes to me. It was a story of good vs evil instead of a story about human nature.
The character work doesn’t satisfy me, it felt like every character was written to play a specific role and to take the niche. The villains were too plainly evil(and I hate just evil characters because I honestly don't believe in such simplicity). And the relationships between many characters just don't feel believable.
Also, a lot of things in the book just don't make sense. For example, all of Anna's POVs are written like her letters to the king and the way their relationships were in life and the depth of her letters just seems ridiculous.
Another thing that made me angry is the messy final. I don't have any other words to describe it - it was just messy and I didn't like and didn't appreciate any point in it. Some things were really strange, some were unnecessary, and some unlogical and contradictory to the things that were said about the characters.
All in all, The Witches of Vardo is one of those books I regret finishing. I initially gave it 3 starts on GoodReads because I wanted to be nice and all. But now I think it isn't fair to other books I gave 3 stars to. 3 stars is a solid rating and I can't give it to a book I regret reading. So I'm downgrading it to 2 stars. I am glad some readers enjoyed this book and found a lot to love about it, but for me, it didn't work at all even though the topic it discussed is really important to me.
So. For me the tragedy of the witch-hunts is in this - people are so afraid of life, of our inability to control the events that we are always in search of simple answers or even someone to blame. And it's so easy to blame those who are different or who are weak or can't protect themselves. It's human nature and the thing we face in modern times too. So yes, hundreds of Saami people and Norwegian (mostly) women were burnt for the greater good by zealous people. It's always hurt to see how easy to persuade the crowd in any allegations if they make them feel better, and understand why bad things happened to them. Even those who were your friends and neighbors yesterday. This is a tragic, horrifying, and raw theme.
And this is the way I see it and I read beautiful and horrifying discussions of it in The Winternight Trilogy, The Glass Woman, and The Mercies. I hoped The Witches of Vardo would enrich my knowledge and experience with this topic, but it made me bored and angry instead.
This book follows two characters - Anna, the former king's mistress sent to Vardo in disgrace, and Ingeborg, whose mother was accused of witchcraft.
Regarding the boredom part - Anna's and Ingeborg's plotlines didn't intersect before 50% of the book and the real plot starts only after it. I wanted to DNF book at that point, but I sadly pushed through and I regret it.
To the angry part - This book felt like the simplification of these themes to me. It was a story of good vs evil instead of a story about human nature.
The character work doesn’t satisfy me, it felt like every character was written to play a specific role and to take the niche. The villains were too plainly evil(and I hate just evil characters because I honestly don't believe in such simplicity). And the relationships between many characters just don't feel believable.
Also, a lot of things in the book just don't make sense. For example, all of Anna's POVs are written like her letters to the king and the way their relationships were in life and the depth of her letters just seems ridiculous.
Another thing that made me angry is the messy final. I don't have any other words to describe it - it was just messy and I didn't like and didn't appreciate any point in it. Some things were really strange, some were unnecessary, and some unlogical and contradictory to the things that were said about the characters.
All in all, The Witches of Vardo is one of those books I regret finishing. I initially gave it 3 starts on GoodReads because I wanted to be nice and all. But now I think it isn't fair to other books I gave 3 stars to. 3 stars is a solid rating and I can't give it to a book I regret reading. So I'm downgrading it to 2 stars. I am glad some readers enjoyed this book and found a lot to love about it, but for me, it didn't work at all even though the topic it discussed is really important to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2023
What a beautiful story - full of emotion, magic and strength.
I loved Ingeborg and Maren - such strong female characters. So young but full of fight and life and with an inbuilt spirit for all the injustice women faced.
The switch between the chapters between Ingeborg and Anna gave an interesting different perspective to the story - both their history and life within the fortress.
I loved the folklore and magic within the story - stories told by the women gave hope and strength at times when all seemed lost and I loved the friendship and loyalty shown.
Anya Bergman doesn’t shy away from the horror of the witch trials and some of the descriptions of what these women endured were graphic and detailed. A brilliant tale.
I loved Ingeborg and Maren - such strong female characters. So young but full of fight and life and with an inbuilt spirit for all the injustice women faced.
The switch between the chapters between Ingeborg and Anna gave an interesting different perspective to the story - both their history and life within the fortress.
I loved the folklore and magic within the story - stories told by the women gave hope and strength at times when all seemed lost and I loved the friendship and loyalty shown.
Anya Bergman doesn’t shy away from the horror of the witch trials and some of the descriptions of what these women endured were graphic and detailed. A brilliant tale.
January 10, 2023
Wow what a debut. Beautiful, emotional, haunting, powerful. This is as finely crafted a debut as I've had the pleasure to read in quite some time. The prose is immaculate, the pacing is perfectly balanced, and the characters are allowed time to breathe, to grow, to become the truest version of themselves. Nothing here is rushed, and it makes it all the more impactful for it.
This is a tale based on true events, with characters drawn from real people, and you can really feel it. It isn't a story for the faint of heart. It asks some harsh questions as it invites you to take a deeper look at these historic events, and to experience them for yourself. You'll sit in the dark, rancid squalor of the cells, you'll feel the cruelty and the torment, the pain of betrayal, of mistrust, of men's want of power and using any and every means to get it. Believe me you'll ache for these women, feel the pure brutality of their treatment, and you'll feel angry, so very angry.
The horrors of the witch trials are not shied away from. They are presented to you in a very real, very tangible way. You'll need a strong stomach, you'll want to turn away, to not see these events unfold; but it is your duty to these women to bear witness, to know their truth, and to always remember.
But along with such harsh brutality there is also a great deal of love, kindness, strength and loyalty to be found among these pages. It's a truly beautiful and magical read.
What a book to start the new year. This one will stay with me for a long time to come.
Thanks so much to the publisher for sending me a copy of The Witches of Vardø in exchange for an honest review 💕
This is a tale based on true events, with characters drawn from real people, and you can really feel it. It isn't a story for the faint of heart. It asks some harsh questions as it invites you to take a deeper look at these historic events, and to experience them for yourself. You'll sit in the dark, rancid squalor of the cells, you'll feel the cruelty and the torment, the pain of betrayal, of mistrust, of men's want of power and using any and every means to get it. Believe me you'll ache for these women, feel the pure brutality of their treatment, and you'll feel angry, so very angry.
The horrors of the witch trials are not shied away from. They are presented to you in a very real, very tangible way. You'll need a strong stomach, you'll want to turn away, to not see these events unfold; but it is your duty to these women to bear witness, to know their truth, and to always remember.
But along with such harsh brutality there is also a great deal of love, kindness, strength and loyalty to be found among these pages. It's a truly beautiful and magical read.
What a book to start the new year. This one will stay with me for a long time to come.
Thanks so much to the publisher for sending me a copy of The Witches of Vardø in exchange for an honest review 💕
August 22, 2023
This is not well written and for a book trying to bring to light the real and very harrowing experiences of women at this time, to insinuate that witchcraft is real perpetuates the fiction that witches were burned when it was women who were burned.
March 19, 2024
too much female suffering for my taste and YES I know I should have expected it... it also feels like there wasn't much else that happened and I didn't like any of the characters so this felt like a waste 😵💫
March 5, 2024
With truth at its core (I have been inspired to read some non-fiction about these little known events), this book tells the story of a remote area of Norway as witch trials abound.
To be honest, for me, I didn't feel I really got to know the characters to a high enough degree. It's not that I didn't care about them, I just didn't really miss them after I finished the book.
To be honest, for me, I didn't feel I really got to know the characters to a high enough degree. It's not that I didn't care about them, I just didn't really miss them after I finished the book.
October 30, 2023
Obviously I know of the Salem and Essex Witch trials, but knew nothing of the real life events of a small fishing town in Eastern Norway.
Like many novels on the awful treatment of abuse and misogyny that innocent women were subject too.
As this story was inspired by real life events, the characterisation of the three women featured really stands out.
It's a strong unique debut with powerful descriptions that really hits home.
Like many novels on the awful treatment of abuse and misogyny that innocent women were subject too.
As this story was inspired by real life events, the characterisation of the three women featured really stands out.
It's a strong unique debut with powerful descriptions that really hits home.
February 18, 2024
2.5
I wish I could have liked this more. It is based on the actual story of women who were put to death at the say so of men who were threatened by ... well, anything the women did better. It is a terrifying history that has repeated itself all over the world at one time or another.
The book started off so well with Ingeborg and her family being torn apart by the deaths of her father and brother. Then, her mother begins an affair with the landowners married song. It was never going to end well. The other voice we hear is Anna who had once been the King's mistress but has been exiled to Vardø as she has become an embarrassment. Anna sees herself as helping the King to rid the land of witches and then she can return home.
My problems began after the initial third of the book. The women, despite being intelligent, don't seem to see the writing on the wall. I can forgive Ingeborg because she is still young. Although she does understand that her mother is not a witch but still insists on wondering if everyone has been in league with "the dark lord".
My second problem with the book is the overdone melodrama. Maren, a cousin, is always trying to show off with her "knowledge" of witchcraft; Ingeborg is either panic stricken or unable to act; Anna is a bit on the drippy lovelorn side.
My final problem is the length of the book. It seems to repeat itself regularly, including a virtual synopsis by Kirsten near the end - just in case we missed any of the salient points.
There was an interesting part at the end describing the fact and suggesting further factual reading. I wish I'd read one of those books instead.
The narration was clear but also, on occasion, a little melodramatic.
I wish I could have liked this more. It is based on the actual story of women who were put to death at the say so of men who were threatened by ... well, anything the women did better. It is a terrifying history that has repeated itself all over the world at one time or another.
The book started off so well with Ingeborg and her family being torn apart by the deaths of her father and brother. Then, her mother begins an affair with the landowners married song. It was never going to end well. The other voice we hear is Anna who had once been the King's mistress but has been exiled to Vardø as she has become an embarrassment. Anna sees herself as helping the King to rid the land of witches and then she can return home.
My problems began after the initial third of the book. The women, despite being intelligent, don't seem to see the writing on the wall. I can forgive Ingeborg because she is still young. Although she does understand that her mother is not a witch but still insists on wondering if everyone has been in league with "the dark lord".
My second problem with the book is the overdone melodrama. Maren, a cousin, is always trying to show off with her "knowledge" of witchcraft; Ingeborg is either panic stricken or unable to act; Anna is a bit on the drippy lovelorn side.
My final problem is the length of the book. It seems to repeat itself regularly, including a virtual synopsis by Kirsten near the end - just in case we missed any of the salient points.
There was an interesting part at the end describing the fact and suggesting further factual reading. I wish I'd read one of those books instead.
The narration was clear but also, on occasion, a little melodramatic.
April 12, 2023
I'm not sure what to think of this book. It's well written style-wise, the characters are well constructed... the author's intentions are noble. But I feel conflicted about the ending.
In the end, I'd give it 2,5 stars, because even though it was an entertaining read, it lacked consistency to me.
In the end, I'd give it 2,5 stars, because even though it was an entertaining read, it lacked consistency to me.
May 5, 2024
3/5
Knyga tiems, kurie apie raganų teismus dar neskaitė nei vienos knygos. Arba tiems, kurie su „aistringu patriarchato demaskavimu“ bei „žaižaruojančiu moterų pasipiešinimo išaukštinimu“, kaip sako viršelyje pateikta Kent citata, dar tik pažindinasi. Arba ir tiems, kurie mėgsta istorines lengvai ir greitai papasakotas moterų stiprybės, vis tiek romantiškas istorijas. O man buvo šiek tiek per daug paviršiumi, per stereotipiškai ir vis tiek kažkaip nusprendžiant vieną didžiausių siaubų istorijoje (o tokių moterims buvo tekę daug) kažkaip mitologizuoti ir išaukštinti iki deiviškumo. Ir veikėjos visos truputį vienpusės, truputį plokščios – viena visą laiką išsigandusi, viena visą laiką labai drąsi ir akiplėšiška, viena nekalta, o kita taip įsimylėjus, kad nieko nebemato. Yra ir tas vyras-gelbėtojas, kuris blemba, kaip mano skoniui netinka prie to aistringo patriarchato demaskavimo...
Ir nors yra ir ta atmosfera, kurios ieškau tokiose knygose, ir istoriniai aspektai, vis dėlto nežinau, kiek daug autorė rėmėsi tikrais dokumentais – labai daug to, kas ir taip akivaizdu, kas jau skaityta, o pritrūko to, ką duoda tokios autorės kaip Kent pažadas – įvairiapusiškumo, gylio. Dialogai dramatiški, dramatiškas ir veiksmas. Skaitosi greitai, tačiau pasikartosiu – tikriausiai nebelabai esu šitos knygos auditorija, jau per daug tokių skaičiau, kad ši dar galėtų pasiūlyti ką nors naujo ir intriguojančio. Bergman šiek tiek tarsi apgauna tuo, kiek temą analizavo ir galiausiai tik praplaukia paviršiumi. Todėl visgi prie „Malonių“ ar kokių „Gerųjų žmonių“ nestoja. Grynai dėl to romantizavimo, kuris neabejoju, kad daugeliui tiks ir patiks, bet man kaip ir kokiam „Hamnete“ – tarsi ne vietoje ir žaidžiant su istorija, konstruojant naratyvą, kuris išaukština tarsi ne tai, ką vertėtų.
Knyga tiems, kurie apie raganų teismus dar neskaitė nei vienos knygos. Arba tiems, kurie su „aistringu patriarchato demaskavimu“ bei „žaižaruojančiu moterų pasipiešinimo išaukštinimu“, kaip sako viršelyje pateikta Kent citata, dar tik pažindinasi. Arba ir tiems, kurie mėgsta istorines lengvai ir greitai papasakotas moterų stiprybės, vis tiek romantiškas istorijas. O man buvo šiek tiek per daug paviršiumi, per stereotipiškai ir vis tiek kažkaip nusprendžiant vieną didžiausių siaubų istorijoje (o tokių moterims buvo tekę daug) kažkaip mitologizuoti ir išaukštinti iki deiviškumo. Ir veikėjos visos truputį vienpusės, truputį plokščios – viena visą laiką išsigandusi, viena visą laiką labai drąsi ir akiplėšiška, viena nekalta, o kita taip įsimylėjus, kad nieko nebemato. Yra ir tas vyras-gelbėtojas, kuris blemba, kaip mano skoniui netinka prie to aistringo patriarchato demaskavimo...
Ir nors yra ir ta atmosfera, kurios ieškau tokiose knygose, ir istoriniai aspektai, vis dėlto nežinau, kiek daug autorė rėmėsi tikrais dokumentais – labai daug to, kas ir taip akivaizdu, kas jau skaityta, o pritrūko to, ką duoda tokios autorės kaip Kent pažadas – įvairiapusiškumo, gylio. Dialogai dramatiški, dramatiškas ir veiksmas. Skaitosi greitai, tačiau pasikartosiu – tikriausiai nebelabai esu šitos knygos auditorija, jau per daug tokių skaičiau, kad ši dar galėtų pasiūlyti ką nors naujo ir intriguojančio. Bergman šiek tiek tarsi apgauna tuo, kiek temą analizavo ir galiausiai tik praplaukia paviršiumi. Todėl visgi prie „Malonių“ ar kokių „Gerųjų žmonių“ nestoja. Grynai dėl to romantizavimo, kuris neabejoju, kad daugeliui tiks ir patiks, bet man kaip ir kokiam „Hamnete“ – tarsi ne vietoje ir žaidžiant su istorija, konstruojant naratyvą, kuris išaukština tarsi ne tai, ką vertėtų.
February 22, 2023
⭐️4.5 Stars⭐️
This intricate historical fiction story is inspired by actual real events of witch hunts which took place on the island of Vardo in 1661-1662 and is meticulously researched. It’s a beautifully intriguing and yet horrific story. I loved the female characters, the magic and folklore.
The Witches of Vardø by Anya Bergman is set in an isolated fishing village in Norway and the story is chilling, sometimes graphic and filled with cruelty and injustice for those women accused of witchcraft.
Anna Rhodius is the former mistress of Frederick the King of Denmark, she’s been banished to Vardo for reasons she doesn’t understand. When Anna is promised liberty by the Governor if she assists to make the witches there confess what will she do? Anna also has a knowledge of herbal medicine and healing.
Living in poverty Ingeborg’s mother Zigri, who is recently widowed has been sent to Vardo to await trial when her affair with a local merchant is discovered and she is accused of being a witch.
Ingeborg sets off to Vardo on a quest to rescue her mother accompanied by wild natured and outspoken Maren (daughter of an accused witch) and friend Zare.
I felt for these women, how cruel the men could be and the atrocities these women were subject to. A wonderfully crafted and atmospheric debut, loved it!
Publication Date 31 January 2023
Publisher Allen & Unwin (Imprint Manilla)
Thank you so much Allen & Unwin for a copy of the book to review.
This intricate historical fiction story is inspired by actual real events of witch hunts which took place on the island of Vardo in 1661-1662 and is meticulously researched. It’s a beautifully intriguing and yet horrific story. I loved the female characters, the magic and folklore.
The Witches of Vardø by Anya Bergman is set in an isolated fishing village in Norway and the story is chilling, sometimes graphic and filled with cruelty and injustice for those women accused of witchcraft.
Anna Rhodius is the former mistress of Frederick the King of Denmark, she’s been banished to Vardo for reasons she doesn’t understand. When Anna is promised liberty by the Governor if she assists to make the witches there confess what will she do? Anna also has a knowledge of herbal medicine and healing.
Living in poverty Ingeborg’s mother Zigri, who is recently widowed has been sent to Vardo to await trial when her affair with a local merchant is discovered and she is accused of being a witch.
Ingeborg sets off to Vardo on a quest to rescue her mother accompanied by wild natured and outspoken Maren (daughter of an accused witch) and friend Zare.
I felt for these women, how cruel the men could be and the atrocities these women were subject to. A wonderfully crafted and atmospheric debut, loved it!
Publication Date 31 January 2023
Publisher Allen & Unwin (Imprint Manilla)
Thank you so much Allen & Unwin for a copy of the book to review.
November 30, 2022
Norway, 1662.
The island of Vardø.
Three women who know nothing of the other shall be forced into close proximity, all at the behest of a zealous King, unstable guards riddled with paranoia and hatred, and a place which is both gilded for some, yet tarnished for others, they will all finally open their eyes and witness something which many shall talk about for hundreds of years to come.
Anna is the King’s prisoner. She longs to return to the mighty Court in Copenhagen, yet the only way to achieve this is to cast her accusing finger on her fellow women.
Ingeborg is both quick witted and nimble on her feet and is destined to be much more than a fisherman’s daughter. She is the caretaker to her wayward mother who triggers events in which Ingeborg must fight to free herself and her sister from a cruel and unjust demise.
Maren is an outcast, daughter of a feared witch and pirate. Only the Sámi community truly accepts her ways, a dangerous path to tread when all around her are people of such pious faith that should just one wrong word be uttered, her flame shall surely be extinguished from this world…..
The King may be all-powerful, but these women shall show the world an even greater power. For they shall not burn.
Enrapturing from the very first sentence, this retelling of the Norwegian witch trials is a timeless story of oppression, superstition and how gossip can spread faster than flame.
The island of Vardø.
Three women who know nothing of the other shall be forced into close proximity, all at the behest of a zealous King, unstable guards riddled with paranoia and hatred, and a place which is both gilded for some, yet tarnished for others, they will all finally open their eyes and witness something which many shall talk about for hundreds of years to come.
Anna is the King’s prisoner. She longs to return to the mighty Court in Copenhagen, yet the only way to achieve this is to cast her accusing finger on her fellow women.
Ingeborg is both quick witted and nimble on her feet and is destined to be much more than a fisherman’s daughter. She is the caretaker to her wayward mother who triggers events in which Ingeborg must fight to free herself and her sister from a cruel and unjust demise.
Maren is an outcast, daughter of a feared witch and pirate. Only the Sámi community truly accepts her ways, a dangerous path to tread when all around her are people of such pious faith that should just one wrong word be uttered, her flame shall surely be extinguished from this world…..
The King may be all-powerful, but these women shall show the world an even greater power. For they shall not burn.
Enrapturing from the very first sentence, this retelling of the Norwegian witch trials is a timeless story of oppression, superstition and how gossip can spread faster than flame.
January 6, 2023
The setting of The Witches of Vardø, an isolated fishing community in a remote part of Norway in the latter half of the seventeenth century along with its subject matter, reminded me strongly of The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave which I read in 2021. And those who have read, as I have, books such as The Manningtree Witches by A. K. Blakemore or Widdershinsby Helen Steadman will be familiar with accusations of witchcraft being levelled against women, especially those considered "different", for instance women skilled in healing. Also how fear of association can turn a community against those accused, how natural events can be interpreted as portents of evil or how unconventional behaviour can be viewed as a sign of possession by the Devil.
We follow the story of Zigri's arrest, imprisonment in the fortress at Vardø, and trial for witchcraft through the eyes of her eldest daughter, Ingeborg. Ingeborg is determined to rescue her mother and sets out to do so, placing herself and her younger sister in danger. She is accompanied by Maren, the daughter of a woman executed for witchcraft, who urges Ingeborg to trust in the power of women to resist the actions of men and seems able to harness the forces of nature in ways which introduce a supernatural element to the story.
Alongside this is the first person narrative of Anna Rhodius, former mistress of the King of Denmark, who has been banished to Vardø for reasons she does not understand, much like the unnamed queen in J. R. Thorp's Learwife. She becomes convinced the way to restore her liberty is to assist the Governor of Finnmark in his mission to search out witches, viewed as a 'blight' on the kingdom of Denmark and held responsible for happenings such as storms, the loss of ships and the spread of disease. 'Yes, yes, now I understand your intent because my exile was a ruse, a pretence, was it not? I am not prisoner but a soldier under your command.' It results in her entering into an agreement with the Governor that is akin to 'a pact with the Devil'. The dreadful consequences of the bargain she has made only become apparent much later, although as her own sad history is revealed we learn a little more about her motivation.
The chief male characters - Governor Christopher Orning and witch-hunter Bailiff Lockhert - are utterly vile. (A welcome contrast is provided by Zare, a young Sámi man, who plays a key role in Ingeborg's endeavours, the Sámi themselves being a persecuted community.) Fuelled by a combination of lust for power, religious fanaticism and perverted misogyny, the cruelty and violence of Orning's and Lockhert's efforts to force the women accused of witchcraft to confess would be beyond belief were it not that they are based on historical fact, as the author explains in her fascinating afterword. There's also a useful glossary to help with some of the Norwegian and Sámi words used in the book.
The Witches of Vardø is a chilling story of prejudice, cruelty and ignorance with a great sense of time and place.
We follow the story of Zigri's arrest, imprisonment in the fortress at Vardø, and trial for witchcraft through the eyes of her eldest daughter, Ingeborg. Ingeborg is determined to rescue her mother and sets out to do so, placing herself and her younger sister in danger. She is accompanied by Maren, the daughter of a woman executed for witchcraft, who urges Ingeborg to trust in the power of women to resist the actions of men and seems able to harness the forces of nature in ways which introduce a supernatural element to the story.
Alongside this is the first person narrative of Anna Rhodius, former mistress of the King of Denmark, who has been banished to Vardø for reasons she does not understand, much like the unnamed queen in J. R. Thorp's Learwife. She becomes convinced the way to restore her liberty is to assist the Governor of Finnmark in his mission to search out witches, viewed as a 'blight' on the kingdom of Denmark and held responsible for happenings such as storms, the loss of ships and the spread of disease. 'Yes, yes, now I understand your intent because my exile was a ruse, a pretence, was it not? I am not prisoner but a soldier under your command.' It results in her entering into an agreement with the Governor that is akin to 'a pact with the Devil'. The dreadful consequences of the bargain she has made only become apparent much later, although as her own sad history is revealed we learn a little more about her motivation.
The chief male characters - Governor Christopher Orning and witch-hunter Bailiff Lockhert - are utterly vile. (A welcome contrast is provided by Zare, a young Sámi man, who plays a key role in Ingeborg's endeavours, the Sámi themselves being a persecuted community.) Fuelled by a combination of lust for power, religious fanaticism and perverted misogyny, the cruelty and violence of Orning's and Lockhert's efforts to force the women accused of witchcraft to confess would be beyond belief were it not that they are based on historical fact, as the author explains in her fascinating afterword. There's also a useful glossary to help with some of the Norwegian and Sámi words used in the book.
The Witches of Vardø is a chilling story of prejudice, cruelty and ignorance with a great sense of time and place.
January 3, 2023
The Witches of Vardø is a novel based on the real life witch hunts which took place on the island of Vardø, Norway, between 1662 and 1663. It is beautifully written, atmospheric, with some gorgeous descriptive passages. The setting highlights how cold and desolate the landscape is and adds to the eerie atmosphere and feel of the book.
The characters are strong, you really do get a sense that they are based on real people and there is an incredibly realistic feel to the whole novel. The addition of some folklore tales such as The Three Mothers and The Blue Ribbon at the beginning of each of the ‘Parts’ of the book was a nice touch and also adds some authenticity.
Historical fiction fans will love this story, it has been meticulously researched and there are a lot of historical facts contained within the pages. The ‘On Fact and Fiction’ section at the back of the book is of particular interest and don’t forget the glossary for some terminology. The Witches of Vardø is a complex tale with a very intense, slow moving plot and in truth the pace was too slow for me and it required a lot of concentration and effort to pull me through the pages. In the end I gave this a middling rating, it was not quite as good as I had been anticipating but had the plot moved along at a much more exciting pace it would have definitely bumped up the rating.
Thank you so much to the publisher for the gifted proof copy to review.
The characters are strong, you really do get a sense that they are based on real people and there is an incredibly realistic feel to the whole novel. The addition of some folklore tales such as The Three Mothers and The Blue Ribbon at the beginning of each of the ‘Parts’ of the book was a nice touch and also adds some authenticity.
Historical fiction fans will love this story, it has been meticulously researched and there are a lot of historical facts contained within the pages. The ‘On Fact and Fiction’ section at the back of the book is of particular interest and don’t forget the glossary for some terminology. The Witches of Vardø is a complex tale with a very intense, slow moving plot and in truth the pace was too slow for me and it required a lot of concentration and effort to pull me through the pages. In the end I gave this a middling rating, it was not quite as good as I had been anticipating but had the plot moved along at a much more exciting pace it would have definitely bumped up the rating.
Thank you so much to the publisher for the gifted proof copy to review.
February 10, 2023
Norway, 1662. A dangerous time to be a woman, when even dancing can lead to accusations of witchcraft. After recently widowed Zigri's affair with the local merchant is discovered, she is sent to the fortress at Vardø to be tried as a witch.
Zigri's daughter Ingeborg sets off into the wilderness to try to bring her mother back home. Accompanying her on this quest is Maren - herself the daughter of a witch - whose wild nature and unconquerable spirit gives Ingeborg the courage to venture into the unknown, and to risk all she has to save her family.
Also captive in the fortress is Anna Rhodius, once the King of Denmark's mistress, who has been sent in disgrace to the island of Vardø. What will she do - and who will she betray - to return to her privileged life at court?
These Witches of Vardø are stronger than even the King. In an age weighted against them, they refuse to be victims. They will have their justice. All they need do is show their power.
The Witches of Vardø is a powerful work of historical fiction that draws on the records of the witch trials in 17th Century Norway, focusing on the lives of a number of women caught up in these events. It is an incredible debut and a superb example of literary historical fiction. It is completely engaging and meticulously researched. I had a real sense of the deep connection that Anya Bergman felt to her subject whilst reading.
This is not a light, easy read, more a harrowing tale, one full of cruelty and brutality. The story is well paced, giving you the chance to get to know Ingeborg and her family before the paranoia and accusations begin. I really enjoyed Bergman’s writing style and I found myself reading big sections of the book in one sitting. The characters in this story are certainly compelling and you really feel for the horrendous way they are treated. Both points of view characters are really interesting, they’re both such different people but are ultimately trying to get back what they’ve lost.
This was meant to be a buddy read but as usual I couldn't stick to the reading schedule. The story has a captivating setting and the remote, snowy Norwegian landscape really comes to life in the author's writing. Anya Bergman also does a great job of increasing the tension as the story progresses and I was completely glued to the book for the last hundred pages to find out how it was going to end.
This is a thought-provoking and beautifully told story, one that historical fiction fans won’t want to put down.
Following the main text in ‘On Fact and Fiction’, Anya Bergman shares details of the events on Vardø during 1662-3 and commemorates the names of the twenty women who died during those years as well as those who were acquitted. She also mentions the Steilneset Memorial completed in 2011 that honours all those who died during the witch trials. For those who wish to delve deeper she provides a number of nonfiction sources as well as an informative glossary.
Zigri's daughter Ingeborg sets off into the wilderness to try to bring her mother back home. Accompanying her on this quest is Maren - herself the daughter of a witch - whose wild nature and unconquerable spirit gives Ingeborg the courage to venture into the unknown, and to risk all she has to save her family.
Also captive in the fortress is Anna Rhodius, once the King of Denmark's mistress, who has been sent in disgrace to the island of Vardø. What will she do - and who will she betray - to return to her privileged life at court?
These Witches of Vardø are stronger than even the King. In an age weighted against them, they refuse to be victims. They will have their justice. All they need do is show their power.
The Witches of Vardø is a powerful work of historical fiction that draws on the records of the witch trials in 17th Century Norway, focusing on the lives of a number of women caught up in these events. It is an incredible debut and a superb example of literary historical fiction. It is completely engaging and meticulously researched. I had a real sense of the deep connection that Anya Bergman felt to her subject whilst reading.
This is not a light, easy read, more a harrowing tale, one full of cruelty and brutality. The story is well paced, giving you the chance to get to know Ingeborg and her family before the paranoia and accusations begin. I really enjoyed Bergman’s writing style and I found myself reading big sections of the book in one sitting. The characters in this story are certainly compelling and you really feel for the horrendous way they are treated. Both points of view characters are really interesting, they’re both such different people but are ultimately trying to get back what they’ve lost.
This was meant to be a buddy read but as usual I couldn't stick to the reading schedule. The story has a captivating setting and the remote, snowy Norwegian landscape really comes to life in the author's writing. Anya Bergman also does a great job of increasing the tension as the story progresses and I was completely glued to the book for the last hundred pages to find out how it was going to end.
This is a thought-provoking and beautifully told story, one that historical fiction fans won’t want to put down.
Following the main text in ‘On Fact and Fiction’, Anya Bergman shares details of the events on Vardø during 1662-3 and commemorates the names of the twenty women who died during those years as well as those who were acquitted. She also mentions the Steilneset Memorial completed in 2011 that honours all those who died during the witch trials. For those who wish to delve deeper she provides a number of nonfiction sources as well as an informative glossary.
April 18, 2023
'Sometimes the smallest of things possess the most magic.'
A beautiful book with a very powerful message! Truly one of the best historical fictions I have read so far.
A beautiful book with a very powerful message! Truly one of the best historical fictions I have read so far.
October 17, 2022
Discover the locations in The Witches of Vardo
The novel to transport you to the island of Vardoya, Norway to the most infamous witch trials of Scandinavia
I devoured this book. Witches, women accused of witchcraft and the belief system mixed with rumours that can destroy a community. All things which are fascinating to read about.
I was intrigued by the Norwegian setting. Strangely, I hadn’t considered there were witch hunts in Norway for some reason. The trials I had heard and read about were those in Salem and the UK. Most countries had them to some degree I guess, since they were the ideal way of controlling and ultimately killing women who got in the way with the male way of control.
This story really is fascinating. I was enthralled by the way the author buit up the atmosphere and landscape. The writing is like something out of Shakespeare’s time – rich in tambour and nuance. However, this is very easy to read. No head-shaking here. Well, not at the language. What you find out about how and why women were accused of witchery deeds, then I was not only shaking my head but wanting to slap the next fictional character who invented a new reason to destroy a woman’s life.
Anna and Iangeborg – two characters who are so different but tell such rich interweaving stories. My heart lept into my mouth when Anna was told she would basically have to join the witch hunts. Ingeborg was a complex woman and her meeting with Malen who is a VERY intriguing character just really made this novel a rich and complex tapestry for me which held me tight between its various strands.
I remember being very hungry at one point but not wanting to leave my reading spot to go and get food. I ended up with an omelette -taking care of course to crush the egg shells into thousands of pieces…..(important to protect against witches it seems.)
This book gets inside your head. It is an exquisite tapestry though and the cover (of the proof at least) reflects the artistry of this craft and, of the tangled web of the story that is woven so beautifully within.
This book isn’t out until Jan 2023 but I’m in a Halloween, witchery kind of mood so there you go. Plus, it just called to me…that cover..the premise. Totally worth the leap from next year’s TBR pile.
January 2, 2023
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Zaffre UK for approving me for an ARC of this book. This was one of my highly anticipated read of 2023 and it did not disappoint.
Told from two POV we follow the lives of Anna and Ingeborg as they both try to survive during a time where every woman can be suspected of witchcraft. Out of the two women’s stories I felt more drawn to Ingeborg’s. After losing her father and brother she becomes the glue that’s holding her family together. Her mother is withdrawn and her younger sister Kirsten depends on her for survival. Even before the main action of the story started Ingeborg showed her tenacity and strength in the face of adversary, I feel we all have a little of Ingeborg in us, waiting to be unleashed.
Anna was an interesting woman with an even more interesting background. I loved her knowledge of herbs and medicine and how she helped others through their ailments. My heart broke for her when she experienced her own heartbreak and I think it is these events that made her come across as quite cold at times. She soon finds herself in a difficult situation, one no one wishes to be in.
This story is seeped in history, magic and family. It explores the complex relationships between mothers and daughters and how fellow women treated one another. Loyalty and unity are truly tested and female empowerment is at the forefront of this story. I was captivated from the first page and barely came up for air whilst exploring this dark and twisted part of history.
Based on true events The Witches of Vardø is heart wrenchingly beautiful and perfect for the witchy fans out there.
Told from two POV we follow the lives of Anna and Ingeborg as they both try to survive during a time where every woman can be suspected of witchcraft. Out of the two women’s stories I felt more drawn to Ingeborg’s. After losing her father and brother she becomes the glue that’s holding her family together. Her mother is withdrawn and her younger sister Kirsten depends on her for survival. Even before the main action of the story started Ingeborg showed her tenacity and strength in the face of adversary, I feel we all have a little of Ingeborg in us, waiting to be unleashed.
Anna was an interesting woman with an even more interesting background. I loved her knowledge of herbs and medicine and how she helped others through their ailments. My heart broke for her when she experienced her own heartbreak and I think it is these events that made her come across as quite cold at times. She soon finds herself in a difficult situation, one no one wishes to be in.
This story is seeped in history, magic and family. It explores the complex relationships between mothers and daughters and how fellow women treated one another. Loyalty and unity are truly tested and female empowerment is at the forefront of this story. I was captivated from the first page and barely came up for air whilst exploring this dark and twisted part of history.
Based on true events The Witches of Vardø is heart wrenchingly beautiful and perfect for the witchy fans out there.
February 11, 2023
Actually, I only read 3/4.
This book has an interesting concept, set in difficult times, but I just couldn’t get into it. The characters seemed too “stock” to me and I would rather read a historical version of events rather than this novel, where each character fit into a needed stereotype rather than feeling like an actual human being. (I looked up the actual historical event and it’s much grimmer than this novel, which has used some of the actual people, but changed their stories).
Also, I was really annoyed by a bit in the first few chapters, where Anna has left the overturned carriage to get her box of herbs and healing goods out of the snow and then, suddenly, she is being put into hand restraints (what happened to her box?). Made no sense and sort of gave me my view of the writing, unfortunately (this was in the hardcover version, in case it was fixed for the paperback).
This book has an interesting concept, set in difficult times, but I just couldn’t get into it. The characters seemed too “stock” to me and I would rather read a historical version of events rather than this novel, where each character fit into a needed stereotype rather than feeling like an actual human being. (I looked up the actual historical event and it’s much grimmer than this novel, which has used some of the actual people, but changed their stories).
Also, I was really annoyed by a bit in the first few chapters, where Anna has left the overturned carriage to get her box of herbs and healing goods out of the snow and then, suddenly, she is being put into hand restraints (what happened to her box?). Made no sense and sort of gave me my view of the writing, unfortunately (this was in the hardcover version, in case it was fixed for the paperback).
May 3, 2024
I think this one just ended up not being for me. Whilst I loved the concept, the themes (Witchy chaos is always a positive for me) and the writing, I struggled to finish it.
Focusing on the positives however, I felt fully transported back to the 1600's and immersed in the culture. The world building was fantastic in this book. I also loved the inclusion of folklore and exploration of how religion and fear of the unknown impacted women's lives. The characters, especially Ingeborg, are particularly well fleshed out.
I just feel like I might have enjoyed this more as an audiobook in all honesty!
Focusing on the positives however, I felt fully transported back to the 1600's and immersed in the culture. The world building was fantastic in this book. I also loved the inclusion of folklore and exploration of how religion and fear of the unknown impacted women's lives. The characters, especially Ingeborg, are particularly well fleshed out.
I just feel like I might have enjoyed this more as an audiobook in all honesty!
January 7, 2023
I received an audiobook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
DNF at 55%
This is a book where I know the DNF because of sheer boredom very much comes from several things that are personal reading quirks.
My major problem is that this book has two characters telling it (Ingeborg and Anna) who don't interact at all until about 50%, and their stories don't overlap or even engage in any way until 40%. Which means I pick one I care about and the other feels surplus to requirements.
This is not helped by the fact that Anna does literally nothing for most of the book. She arrives on the island, doesn't like her accommodations, and then has spent most of the rest of the first half reminiscing in these letters she's writing (presumably in her head as she has no ink?) to the king about their time together and how loyal she is. She adds absolutely nothing to the plot, failing to move it forward most of the time, and is just there obsessed with someone we don't see on page. This all means I could not care less about her and just want to skip her chapters.
Which is a problem because I think I might have really enjoyed Ingeborg's chapters, the portrait of a family destroyed by loss and spite, and then a daughter's journey to free her mother (or maybe she fails, I don't know, didn't get that far) but Anna annoyed me so much and I was just dragging myself through listening that I decided it was time to give up and move on.
DNF at 55%
This is a book where I know the DNF because of sheer boredom very much comes from several things that are personal reading quirks.
My major problem is that this book has two characters telling it (Ingeborg and Anna) who don't interact at all until about 50%, and their stories don't overlap or even engage in any way until 40%. Which means I pick one I care about and the other feels surplus to requirements.
This is not helped by the fact that Anna does literally nothing for most of the book. She arrives on the island, doesn't like her accommodations, and then has spent most of the rest of the first half reminiscing in these letters she's writing (presumably in her head as she has no ink?) to the king about their time together and how loyal she is. She adds absolutely nothing to the plot, failing to move it forward most of the time, and is just there obsessed with someone we don't see on page. This all means I could not care less about her and just want to skip her chapters.
Which is a problem because I think I might have really enjoyed Ingeborg's chapters, the portrait of a family destroyed by loss and spite, and then a daughter's journey to free her mother (or maybe she fails, I don't know, didn't get that far) but Anna annoyed me so much and I was just dragging myself through listening that I decided it was time to give up and move on.
December 16, 2022
The story is inspired from the real events of 16th Century in Vardo (the easternmost town in Norway). With glimpses of actual history run Ning in parallel with the storyline is this book that will take you in world filled with real atrocities of male dominance.
Though there is no mention of actual magic or witchcraft, the book is narrated from multiple PoVs showcasing how the most ordinary occurance could make into the checklist of being a witch. To name a few: Drinking Alcohol, Dancing, sharp tongue e.t.c. The book was overall quite engaging but it lost me after the first half somewhere with a mixture of different narratives told together. But it got me back towards the end when it started tying the loose ends and something very unexpectedly sad happened 🤫🤐
Personal thought:
I really think that when men have forced physical relations with maidens claiming ' The girl/women lured them into it because they were witches pissed by Devils charms'.... Those men should have been burned on stakes too! It enrages me to read such things and the more I read, I feel the lesser aware I was about the history of this world 🌎🌍
Thankyou @netgalley @manilla_press and for the amazing Digital ARC
Genre: #historicalfiction #womensfiction
Rating: 4/5 ⭐
⚠️ Please read the trigger warnings
Though there is no mention of actual magic or witchcraft, the book is narrated from multiple PoVs showcasing how the most ordinary occurance could make into the checklist of being a witch. To name a few: Drinking Alcohol, Dancing, sharp tongue e.t.c. The book was overall quite engaging but it lost me after the first half somewhere with a mixture of different narratives told together. But it got me back towards the end when it started tying the loose ends and something very unexpectedly sad happened 🤫🤐
Personal thought:
I really think that when men have forced physical relations with maidens claiming ' The girl/women lured them into it because they were witches pissed by Devils charms'.... Those men should have been burned on stakes too! It enrages me to read such things and the more I read, I feel the lesser aware I was about the history of this world 🌎🌍
Thankyou @netgalley @manilla_press and for the amazing Digital ARC
Genre: #historicalfiction #womensfiction
Rating: 4/5 ⭐
⚠️ Please read the trigger warnings
May 9, 2023
I've read a number of historical fiction novels about witch trials. I think if you're going to bother writing a story rather than a non-fiction account, you need to ensure the characters are compelling. This book largely fails in that aspect.
I find Ingeborg pretty boring, and her romance with Zare unnecessary, not furthering any of the main themes. Maren is so rah-rah feminist about her witch heritage that she comes across flat, not like a real person. The other character who seems to have some witchy powers going on, Kirsten, suffers from the opposite problem: there is little sense of what her motivations, if any, are. As for Zigri, I wasn't sympathetic to her at all. Elisa's arc is satisfying, if predictable - a neat narrative of liberation/empowerment - but largely takes place off-page. And Anna's initially interesting conflict and fraught position in the power dynamics on Vardø isn't developed to its full potential, instead getting replaced with a fixation on Kirsten who reminds her of her daughter.
You may notice in the above paragraph that there are a lot of women in this story. That makes it even more amazing that I wasn't very invested in reading about any of them.
Solid premise, disappointing execution.
I find Ingeborg pretty boring, and her romance with Zare unnecessary, not furthering any of the main themes. Maren is so rah-rah feminist about her witch heritage that she comes across flat, not like a real person. The other character who seems to have some witchy powers going on, Kirsten, suffers from the opposite problem: there is little sense of what her motivations, if any, are. As for Zigri, I wasn't sympathetic to her at all. Elisa's arc is satisfying, if predictable - a neat narrative of liberation/empowerment - but largely takes place off-page. And Anna's initially interesting conflict and fraught position in the power dynamics on Vardø isn't developed to its full potential, instead getting replaced with a fixation on Kirsten who reminds her of her daughter.
You may notice in the above paragraph that there are a lot of women in this story. That makes it even more amazing that I wasn't very invested in reading about any of them.
Solid premise, disappointing execution.
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