Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Witches of Vardø by Anya Bergman

20 reviews

d0nt_be_so_rude's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

This story is based on true facts which made it even more impactful. For me, I could think of current events that seemed similair like nothing has changed since the witchs hunts. At the same time the way Ingeborg and Anna think about themselves, witches and the devil really pulled me into the past.
There is one thing that made me almost dnf this book. Ingeborg and Anna tell their story from different perspectives. One from first person and the other from third person. Every chapter I had to take a moment before I could read further because I could not really get into the story this way. After a while, about half way through, I got used to it.

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papayat's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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bookwyrmdancer's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0


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geobp's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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imlfox's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-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


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na_no's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

4.0


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tigglez's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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lilyadams's review against another edition

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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


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writingcaia's review against another edition

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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.

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fictionalsarah's review against another edition

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dark sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0


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