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srivalli's review against another edition
dark
informative
medium-paced
3.5
3.5 Stars
One Liner: Mixed feelings
1660s Norway
Anna Rhodius is a physician and a mistress of the King of Denmark in her younger days. She is shipped to Vardø in disgrace, though her heart yearns for her previous lifestyle, and makes a deal that could affect many lives, including hers.
Zigri has lost her son and husband to the sea. She begins an affair with a merchant and is accused of witchcraft and sent to Vardø for a trial.
Ingeborg, Zigri’s sixteen-year-old daughter, is determined to save her mother. This is easier said than done in times when women could be arrested, tortured, and killed with little or no evidence.
Maren, the daughter of Liren Sand, the most powerful witch in Denmark, helps Ingeborg. However, can they achieve their goals, or will the women and children face the same brutal fate as others accused of witchcraft?
The story comes in the first-person POV of Anna (addressing King Frederick in the second person) and the third-person POV of Ingeborg.
My Thoughts:
Books about witch trials in different parts of Europe share similar stories of abuse, patriarchy, misogyny, and religious violence against women. This one is no different. The setting is atmospheric and adds to the intensity of the theme.
The core parts are done well, presenting how women ended up being accused as witches and burned to death. The cruelty of the royalty also comes across clearly in the narrative. The mistrust and hatred for the indigenous community and their sufferings because of it are spot on. The bits about the Sami community are also well-presented, and I’d have preferred more of it.
The folktales added in between are wonderful. They should have distracted me from the story, but I found them more interesting (since the story tends to drag in many places).
The plot requires strong characters to enhance the reader’s emotions. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen here. Giving Anna a first-person POV doesn’t seem like a good idea. She sounds whiny, delusional, self-righteous, pretentious, and judgmental. Her addressing the king in the second person is the most annoying thing in the book. I skimmed through her chapters in the second half.
Ingeborg starts out as an intriguing character but soon becomes a mess. While I understand her conditioning to love her mother (no matter what), it still doesn’t make her arc any better. Maren shows great promise but ends up stereotypical. Zigri is an example of why some people should not have kids. Only Kristen makes me feel sad for her. She’s a victim in almost every sense.
A book about witches should have strong magic realism or be utterly realistic. This haphazard blend of both doesn’t help the narrative. It almost feels like the ‘magical’ bits are a later addition.
If not for the violence, I’d classify this as a YA novel. The dialogues are made it seem like one. One advantage of it is that I could speed-read and not miss anything (0.5 stars extra for this). The emotions just don’t hit the mark, making it easy to stay detached and rush ahead instead of lingering and feeling for the characters.
Despite the dark events and deaths, the book has happy endings for a couple of characters. I did like that, though one of them felt like stretching things a little too much (this comes from a HEA lover).
However, the author’s note at the end is insightful. The glossary is detailed (I didn’t expect one, so that’s a plus), and there’s a list of recommended reads. I love that the author listed the names of women who lost their lives in the witch trials. They need to be acknowledged.
To summarize, The Witches of Vardø deals with an important theme and presents yet another story of witch trials we should never forget. However, it could have been shorter, better, and more impactful.
Thank you, NetGalley, Bonnier Books UK, and Manilla Press, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheWitchesofVardo
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Misogyny, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide, Torture, and Death of parent
lilyadams's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Miscarriage, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Excrement, and Pregnancy
writingcaia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
This is a haunting slow paced fictional tale inspired by the real persecution, and murder of those considered witches in Vardø in the 17th century.
The superstition so far north in the kingdom of Denmark and Norway was kindling for the fires that burned so many innocent women, children and the ones, like the semi-nomadic sámi, that didn’t fit, that worshiped other gods.
Here we have a mix of past and present women’s strife in a lyrical narrative telling the interwoven story of a three women and three children arrested for being witches, and that of one noblewoman sharing the same castle exiled by the king for being too outspoken and not going into the shadows as old women are meant to.
The story is told in mostly two POVs, that of one of the teens, sister and daughter of other accused, and the other the noblewoman’s. With some Nordic stories in between parts.
As the author says this book is one to give voice to the thousands of innocents murdered by the fearful, hateful and petty that manipulated the minds of the superstitious and aggrieved, and to make them echo into the present and future, forever living in the hearts of the people like them.
It’s slow going especially in the beginning but so worth it to push forth and dive into this dark, cold, violent, vibrant and fiery story where women suffer, die, but also persist and find happiness, searching inside for their inner lynx, their fierceness and royal-ness.
P. S.: The mention to the Sámi made me research them and find they’ve been always persecuted and pushed to conversations, it made me want to find more and read from their natives and hear their songs. To make their voice heard louder. They who’ve withstand, these natives to the Laplands with their gods and reindeers, with their songs and colors.
The superstition so far north in the kingdom of Denmark and Norway was kindling for the fires that burned so many innocent women, children and the ones, like the semi-nomadic sámi, that didn’t fit, that worshiped other gods.
Here we have a mix of past and present women’s strife in a lyrical narrative telling the interwoven story of a three women and three children arrested for being witches, and that of one noblewoman sharing the same castle exiled by the king for being too outspoken and not going into the shadows as old women are meant to.
The story is told in mostly two POVs, that of one of the teens, sister and daughter of other accused, and the other the noblewoman’s. With some Nordic stories in between parts.
As the author says this book is one to give voice to the thousands of innocents murdered by the fearful, hateful and petty that manipulated the minds of the superstitious and aggrieved, and to make them echo into the present and future, forever living in the hearts of the people like them.
It’s slow going especially in the beginning but so worth it to push forth and dive into this dark, cold, violent, vibrant and fiery story where women suffer, die, but also persist and find happiness, searching inside for their inner lynx, their fierceness and royal-ness.
P. S.: The mention to the Sámi made me research them and find they’ve been always persecuted and pushed to conversations, it made me want to find more and read from their natives and hear their songs. To make their voice heard louder. They who’ve withstand, these natives to the Laplands with their gods and reindeers, with their songs and colors.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Hate crime, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexual violence, and Torture
Minor: Animal cruelty
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Miscarriage, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
julesreadsstuff's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Miscarriage
carlyalynnsia's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, and Torture
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Death of parent
indyjg's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This haunting and evocative novel is a fictional retelling of the Vardø witch trials, where thirty women were accused of witchcraft and making deals with the devil on the island of Vardø in 1662. The book swaps between a dual point of view from Ingeborg, the daughter of Zigri, a widow and accused witch whose only mistake was an affair with a merchant, and Anna Rhodius, formerly the King of Denmark's secret mistress, exiled after losing favour with the King.
These women are all subjected to the cruel whims of men in power and the zeal of religious fanaticism. Yet the power of these women and their strength stand out; they are all complex characters trying to survive in a time where so much as dancing could leave you branded as a witch. I enjoyed that Anna Rhodius's role was more fleshed out and complex, and the setting adds to an eerie atmosphere and the feel of the book. Maren was one of my favourite characters, the daughter of an infamous witch. Maren has a unique and outspoken disposition in a time when women were expected to be meek and subservient. Her intrinsic connection to nature and her strength sat with me for a while after reading this, as well as Ingeborg's perseverance in the face of danger. We all have a little of Ingeborg in us, waiting to be unleashed at the right time. I felt more connected to my ancestors and the hardships they must have faced after reading this; the true story of these women should not be forgotten.
These women are all subjected to the cruel whims of men in power and the zeal of religious fanaticism. Yet the power of these women and their strength stand out; they are all complex characters trying to survive in a time where so much as dancing could leave you branded as a witch. I enjoyed that Anna Rhodius's role was more fleshed out and complex, and the setting adds to an eerie atmosphere and the feel of the book. Maren was one of my favourite characters, the daughter of an infamous witch. Maren has a unique and outspoken disposition in a time when women were expected to be meek and subservient. Her intrinsic connection to nature and her strength sat with me for a while after reading this, as well as Ingeborg's perseverance in the face of danger. We all have a little of Ingeborg in us, waiting to be unleashed at the right time. I felt more connected to my ancestors and the hardships they must have faced after reading this; the true story of these women should not be forgotten.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Torture
Minor: Death of parent
kaylreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A beautiful book about the true witch trials in Norway. The descriptions and writing really does create an element of magic whilst also painting a very dark tale. Highly recommend
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
laney_reads_22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Rape
Moderate: Miscarriage, Torture, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Child death and Suicide
areadersalley's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Suicide
Moderate: Child death and Death