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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
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
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
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
bertolaletizia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Violence
kristinas_shelves's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, and Violence
shelfofunread's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
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? No
5.0
‘The savage north held me captive. I was imprisoned in falling snow and blinded by glaring white light, empty of all shadows. I stood upon the ship’s deck and nothing was before me.’
Like Anna Rhodius, cast adrift upon a sea of ice by a pernicious king, I was held captive by The Witches of Vardø, imprisoned within Anya Bergman’s utterly compelling tale of patriarchal injustice, female power, and survival.
When an ill-advised affair leads to accusations that she has been fornicating with the devil, young widow Zigri is hauled off to the fortress of Vardøhus for trial. Ingeborg, Zigri’s eldest daughter, promises to rescue her mother – but when Zigri’s former lover abandons the family, Ingeborg has no choice but to seek the help from the enigmatic Maren, the daughter of the most famous – and most deadly – of Norway’s witches. Meanwhile, within the fortress of Vardøhus, physician’s daughter Anna Rhodius seeks to return to her privileged life by extracting the confessions of these supposed witches.
Inspired by the real events that took place on the island of Vardø between 1662 and 1663, The Witches of Vardø tells the story of these three women as their lives become entwined and they fight to survive in the face of terrible accusations. As the frantic hunt for witches continues – and more accused women are brought to Vardøhus – Zigri, Ingeborg, and Anna must navigate between the paranoia of the powerful men who control their destiny, the desperation of their own situations, and their own desires for freedom and justice.
Enrapturing from the off, The Witches of Vardø paints a moving portrait of an age weighted against women – and against poor women in particular. Whilst Zigri, Ingeborg, and Anna all refuse to be victims, their efforts to exercise their power are frequently thwarted by the deadly combination of patriarchal authority, religious mania, and deep-rooted superstition that has been consolidated against them. Add in each women’s desperation to save herself – and her willingness to betray others in order to do so – and you’ve got a wild ride of a book that simmers with oppressive tension.
Whilst I was immediately drawn into the world of the novel, the story itself does take a while to really develop as Anya Bergman spends the opening chapters drawing her reader into the everyday lives of these women and their communities. As such, the sudden descent of violence upon them in the form of the Baliff and his men has real force, upsetting the quiet order of the narrative as much as it does the lives of Ingeborg and her family.
I found all of the women to be interesting characters. Torn between her desire to help her mother and her anger at Zigri’s folly, Ingeborg is a sympathetic character who it is easy to empathise with. Zigri and Anna are more challenging to a reader’s sympathies: Zigri because her pursuit of individual pleasure, though somewhat understandable, has denounced her family in the eyes of both the church and the state, and Anna because, although justifiably proud of her intelligence, she uses it to manipulate and betray other women. The complexities of both women are bought across however and, whilst I did not always agree with their choices, I found myself understanding why they had made them.
The male characters were, admittedly, slightly less successful. Governor Orning and Baliff Lockhert didn’t really impress themselves upon me as more than a religious zealot and a sadist respectively. Anna’s former lover is similarly distanced from the narrative, both physically and emotionally, and acts at times as a cipher for patriarchal oppression. Zare, the Sámi leader who helps Ingeborg and Maren is more complex but I didn’t feel as if we really got to know him all that well during the course of the novel. This is, perhaps, Bergman’s point. As Maren frequently reminds Ingeborg, their menfolk cannot protect these women and, as such, they must help themselves.
Indeed, although Ingeborg and Anna act as the main narrators of the novel, I found Maren to be the most compelling and it is through her character – and those of the Sámi with whom she fosters forbidden friendships – that the magical realism elements of the novel are explored. Blending Nordic folktales, Norse mythology and Sámi mythology with historical fact could have been risky but Anya Bergman merges each element together into a seamless tale that effectively conveys the power of folklore and knowledge, as well as the dangers that being perceived to hold such power can have.
Whilst The Witches of Vardø does not shy away from the horrors endured by those accused of witchcraft – and fully explores the complexities of loyalty, and betrayal amidst such circumstances – it is a powerful testament to female power in the face of persecution and a captivating tale of the friendships and connections that can be forged in the face of adversity. Beautifully written and underpinned by thorough research of the subject and period, The Witches of Vardø is a must read for any historical fiction fan.
NB: This review also appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpress.com as part of the Blog Tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Like Anna Rhodius, cast adrift upon a sea of ice by a pernicious king, I was held captive by The Witches of Vardø, imprisoned within Anya Bergman’s utterly compelling tale of patriarchal injustice, female power, and survival.
When an ill-advised affair leads to accusations that she has been fornicating with the devil, young widow Zigri is hauled off to the fortress of Vardøhus for trial. Ingeborg, Zigri’s eldest daughter, promises to rescue her mother – but when Zigri’s former lover abandons the family, Ingeborg has no choice but to seek the help from the enigmatic Maren, the daughter of the most famous – and most deadly – of Norway’s witches. Meanwhile, within the fortress of Vardøhus, physician’s daughter Anna Rhodius seeks to return to her privileged life by extracting the confessions of these supposed witches.
Inspired by the real events that took place on the island of Vardø between 1662 and 1663, The Witches of Vardø tells the story of these three women as their lives become entwined and they fight to survive in the face of terrible accusations. As the frantic hunt for witches continues – and more accused women are brought to Vardøhus – Zigri, Ingeborg, and Anna must navigate between the paranoia of the powerful men who control their destiny, the desperation of their own situations, and their own desires for freedom and justice.
Enrapturing from the off, The Witches of Vardø paints a moving portrait of an age weighted against women – and against poor women in particular. Whilst Zigri, Ingeborg, and Anna all refuse to be victims, their efforts to exercise their power are frequently thwarted by the deadly combination of patriarchal authority, religious mania, and deep-rooted superstition that has been consolidated against them. Add in each women’s desperation to save herself – and her willingness to betray others in order to do so – and you’ve got a wild ride of a book that simmers with oppressive tension.
Whilst I was immediately drawn into the world of the novel, the story itself does take a while to really develop as Anya Bergman spends the opening chapters drawing her reader into the everyday lives of these women and their communities. As such, the sudden descent of violence upon them in the form of the Baliff and his men has real force, upsetting the quiet order of the narrative as much as it does the lives of Ingeborg and her family.
I found all of the women to be interesting characters. Torn between her desire to help her mother and her anger at Zigri’s folly, Ingeborg is a sympathetic character who it is easy to empathise with. Zigri and Anna are more challenging to a reader’s sympathies: Zigri because her pursuit of individual pleasure, though somewhat understandable, has denounced her family in the eyes of both the church and the state, and Anna because, although justifiably proud of her intelligence, she uses it to manipulate and betray other women. The complexities of both women are bought across however and, whilst I did not always agree with their choices, I found myself understanding why they had made them.
The male characters were, admittedly, slightly less successful. Governor Orning and Baliff Lockhert didn’t really impress themselves upon me as more than a religious zealot and a sadist respectively. Anna’s former lover is similarly distanced from the narrative, both physically and emotionally, and acts at times as a cipher for patriarchal oppression. Zare, the Sámi leader who helps Ingeborg and Maren is more complex but I didn’t feel as if we really got to know him all that well during the course of the novel. This is, perhaps, Bergman’s point. As Maren frequently reminds Ingeborg, their menfolk cannot protect these women and, as such, they must help themselves.
Indeed, although Ingeborg and Anna act as the main narrators of the novel, I found Maren to be the most compelling and it is through her character – and those of the Sámi with whom she fosters forbidden friendships – that the magical realism elements of the novel are explored. Blending Nordic folktales, Norse mythology and Sámi mythology with historical fact could have been risky but Anya Bergman merges each element together into a seamless tale that effectively conveys the power of folklore and knowledge, as well as the dangers that being perceived to hold such power can have.
Whilst The Witches of Vardø does not shy away from the horrors endured by those accused of witchcraft – and fully explores the complexities of loyalty, and betrayal amidst such circumstances – it is a powerful testament to female power in the face of persecution and a captivating tale of the friendships and connections that can be forged in the face of adversity. Beautifully written and underpinned by thorough research of the subject and period, The Witches of Vardø is a must read for any historical fiction fan.
NB: This review also appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpress.com as part of the Blog Tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death, Child death, and Death of parent
swalk's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
3.75
Set in the 1660’s, Anya Bergman weaves an epic tale of poverty, prejudice and oppression in the bitter climate of Northernmost Norway. Based on real characters and events, this story illustrates the exile, torture and maltreatment of women accused of witchcraft at the time.
The tale is told from dual perspectives; firstly that of Fru Anna Rhodius, a women of medicine and herbology, as she diarises her life in letters to her past lover and now captor King Fredrik.of Finnmark.
The tale is told from dual perspectives; firstly that of Fru Anna Rhodius, a women of medicine and herbology, as she diarises her life in letters to her past lover and now captor King Fredrik.of Finnmark.
Secondly Ingeborg, a young woman from a fishing family, daughter of Zigri and elder sister of Kirsten. Ingeborg tries to her utmost provide for her family and keep them safe from harm with the help of her strong and devoted cousin Marin.
These women’s stories become enmeshed as they fail to be confined by the expectations of society, and are deemed to be witches by the men in power.
I found this book a little hard to follow at first due to the dual viewpoints and working out the family dynamics, but once I got into the rhythm of the book and the stories began to converge I really became invested in the characters, however flawed they may be.
The narrator is excellent and conveys the dark and atmospheric mood of the writing very well giving a great performance.
The narrator is excellent and conveys the dark and atmospheric mood of the writing very well giving a great performance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Violence, and Death of parent