After previously writing books aimed at children and young adults, The Mercies was the debut adult novel by bestselling author Kiran Millwood Hargrave. The book was published in 2020 and debuted as The Times number 1 bestseller.
The Mercies was a Richard and Judy book club pick for summer 2021 and Kiran Millwood Hargrave’s second novel, The Dance Tree, was featured on BBC’s Between the Covers. The Mercies was described by Emily Barton for a New York Times review as ‘among the best novels I’ve read in years’.
I love reading historical fiction and find the witch trials of the 17th century particularly fascinating. Therefore, after buying a gorgeous edition from Waterstones, I couldn’t wait to read The Mercies.
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Plot
The Mercies is inspired by the real events that prompted witch trials on the small Norwegian island of Vardø in 1617.
In this small 17th century Norwegian fishing village, a devastating storm claims the lives of almost the entire male population. The women, whose livelihood had depended on their fishermen, are forced to carry on without them in an unforgiving climate.
Maren grew up on Vardø and lost both her father and brother to the storm, along with the man she was to marry. Like the other women on the island, Maren is forced outside the traditional role as a woman in those times and learns to take on what was always a man’s role in order to survive.
Meanwhile, in a different part of Norway, Ursa is a young woman, devoted to her poorly sister. When her father tells her she is to be married to a man named Absalom Cornet she is left with very little choice. Ursa leaves her home and moves to Vardø with her new husband, who is granted the role of commissioner. He is tasked with bringing religious order and righteousness to the community. He takes this job seriously and is instantly suspicious of any woman who is a free thinker.
The Mercies Book Review
I found this book to be completely enthralling and I was captivated by the dark and menacing atmosphere. There was a real sense of foreboding as the story built up to its climax. I just couldn’t put the book down.
I really loved the two main protagonists, Maren and Ursa. They had completely different lives and upbringings, but were thrown together by circumstance and found they had more in common than they thought. I could feel the emotion that flowed between them as they became dangerously close.
The story was perfectly paced and the author allowed us to get to know the characters as the events unfolded. It was so well written and I could feel how cold and desolate the place could feel at times. The cold and brutal weather perfectly mirrored the treatment of these brave and independent women.
Absalom Cornet was the ultimate villain, using his power to punish anyone who didn’t follow his religious beliefs. I was horrified as these free-thinking, independent women were accused of witchcraft for merely trying to survive. Knowing the book is based on true events makes the tale all the more horrifying. To lose your husbands, fathers and sons in a storm is traumatising enough without the events that followed. The tension was palpable and I was desperately hoping for a safe ending for these women.
To sum up, The Mercies was a gripping, atmospheric historical novel and I absolutely loved it. It’s a beautifully written yet haunting novel that showcases female solidarity, resilience and empowerment in the face of oppression.
What books are like The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave?
If you loved The Mercies, I’d definitely recommend The Dance Tree, also written by Kiran Millwood Hargrave. I really loved them both.
In terms of different authors, although the premises are obviously different, I found that the following books had a similar feel to them:
Has Kiran Millwood Hargrave written any other novels?
The Mercies was the debut novel for adults by Kiran Millwood Hargrave. Her second adult novel was The Dance Tree. She has also written multiple children’s books.