The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

  “Inspired by the real events of the Vardo storm and the 1621 witch trials.”

On Christmas Eve 1617 the Vardo storm claims forty fishermen, among them brother and father of Maren. With nearly all men dead, the women of a tiny Arctic island of Vardo must fend for themselves. The women fish, chop the wood, ready the fields, butcher reindeer, tend the livestock. A new Pastor assigned to Vardo observes the women closely and asks for a commissioner to be assigned as he sees something that may not be a godly behavior. A firmer hand is needed, “to root the Church more fully into the land.”

Ursa, commissioner’s wife, is terrified by her newlywed husband. But she is a smart woman and she can form her own opinion. By being obedient doesn’t mean she agrees with her husband. On the small island of Vardo, she sees primitive living conditions. At the same time, she notices women being independent.

Commissioner’s pressure and his iron hand cause a rift among kirke-women. Those gathering for social Wednesday meets at kirke (religious community).

The women’s gatherings and the friendship forged between two women, Maren and Ursa, are very heart-warming. My heart went out to those two women, especially Ursa, coming from a warm house and married to a cold, controlling husband. She carefully needs to trudge the waters with her husband.

Impressively drawn characters, who are helpless against man’s ruling world.

Grippingly drawn time period, infused with different customs. I enjoyed the customs of Sami people, who some considered wild. What one finds comfort in or sees as gestures of remembrance, another sees as withcraft. The time period also gives a good sense of how it was to be a passenger on a boat or to be doing fishing. The simplicity of living huts is well-presented.

Enjoyable descriptions that transport reader back in time, giving enough descriptions to make that impression of the time of hard conditions and at the same time they’re not overly done.

Poignant and captivating story of courageous women, inspiringly crafted with flawless prose.

Release date: 11 February 2020

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company