The Mercies | Book Review

Does Kiran Millwood Hargrave’s The Mercies portray the dark, harrowing narrative of the witch trials in Norway in the1600’s?

A terrible storm is summoned out of nowhere on Christmas Eve 1617 and kills all 40 fishermen in Vardo, leaving only the women and the priest to fend for themselves. However Lensman Hans Koning, who rules over the land, invites Absalom Cornet to be Commissioner over Vardo. Cornet finds a wife on his way to Vardo called Ursa, the story follows their relationship as well as a local girl called Maren, who lost her father, brother and betrothed in the storm. The story shows how religion tears these women apart and eventually leads to accusations of witchcraft all watched over and carried out by Absalom Cornet much to Ursa’s dislike. Maren and Ursa become closer friends, which develops into a deeper romantic relationship. Trials for those accused of witchcraft take place with those found guilty burnt on the stake.

“The story shows how religion tears these women apart and eventually leads to accusations of witchcraft all watched over and carried out by Absalom Cornet much to Ursa’s dislike.”

Spoilers:

I found this book really hard to enjoy. It did not entice me from the beginning at all and felt a little like a chore to read. It was not a difficult read but I felt Hargrave tries to write in a poetic manor but didn’t quite achieve this. Don’t get me wrong; I do love a poetic writing style novel, Erin Morgenstern’s Night Circus for example is one of my favourite books but Hargrave’s felt out of place. The book suddenly picked up and had me gripped but only in the last quarter of the book, which is such a shame, as had it been at this pace for at least half the book, I would have rated it higher.

Maren and Ursa’s true romantic feelings were loosely hinted at and then they suddenly physically act on it just after seeing their friend burnt at the stake…. I would have like to have seen them more physical earlier on, even just a kiss.

“Maren and Ursa’s true romantic feelings were loosely hinted at and then they suddenly physically act on it just after seeing their friend burnt at the stake….”

Religion is a key point in this novel and I became angry knowing this story is based on true events and the hypocrisy of religion shown throughout, which I hope was Hargraves’ aim and intention. Religion has a bloody, unkind, cruel history that should not be forgotten today and even the title of this book, The Mercies, relates to the mercies of God, a reminder this was carried out in the name of God and to hope for his mercy, very old testament.

I received this book in a Books That Matter subscription and was looking forward to reading a feminist fiction novel, only to be disappointed. This could be because my idea of feminist literature is women working together to fight the patriarchy and this novel not only lacked this, but showed the complete opposite. The women were catty, betrayed each other greatly and worked with the patriarchal figure, Absalom Cornet to bring other women down. Women lost, in the end Ursa killing her husband had me cheering, but she was weary and weak after which let it down for me.

“I received this book in a Books That Matter subscription and was looking forward to reading a feminist fiction novel, only to be disappointed."

I regretfully give this book a 2 star rating. It was too slow for the majority of the book and the end felt rushed. I do think I may be slightly biased on this book as it isn’t my favourite subject and therefore lacked interest when reading.