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A review by iridium
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Ordinarily I wouldn't give five stars to books that took me this long to read but I savored this book, know I will rave about it in the future, and it's full of things I irrationally love.
This is a book that acknowledges: 1) the ethnic undercurrents of witch trials such as these, 2) the fact that European witch trials are mostly not a medieval phenomenon and really got going in earnest in the Early Modern period, and 3) the fact that Salem wasn't the only one. Also, I'm really glad this book wasn't about them being real witches. I always find that super tacky when it happens. Moreover, I feel like this book really *got it* in a way that most other witch hunt narratives don't, the uncertainty and the political changes that lead to this sort of thing. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to read about witch hunts (with the caveat that it's fiction and liberties were taken).
Are these really reasons to love a book? I told you it was irrational.
Also, I loved the amount of research that went into this. This is where some people are going to dislike this book. There's a lot of home and hearth. A lot of description of chores and baking and fishing and the landscape. I personally loved this but it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea.
The writing style worked for me. It made me feel like I was there. I could clearly picture and feel everything and I struggle with that when reading sometimes. Again, the writing style won't be for everyone.
I also really liked the characters, and how the class difference between the two main characters was handled. I liked the town's collective grief and how it didn't really bring them closer together. Maren's situation with her mother and sister-in-law was painfully believable. It wasn't rah-rah or syrupy like I was afraid might happen, it was just real.
Frankly, I didn't like the very ending that much but it didn't bother me enough to remove a star. Besides, I'm giving it extra points due to having an Arctic setting. I know this is unfair but it's my review so :P
This is a book that acknowledges: 1) the ethnic undercurrents of witch trials such as these, 2) the fact that European witch trials are mostly not a medieval phenomenon and really got going in earnest in the Early Modern period, and 3) the fact that Salem wasn't the only one. Also, I'm really glad this book wasn't about them being real witches. I always find that super tacky when it happens. Moreover, I feel like this book really *got it* in a way that most other witch hunt narratives don't, the uncertainty and the political changes that lead to this sort of thing. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to read about witch hunts (with the caveat that it's fiction and liberties were taken).
Are these really reasons to love a book? I told you it was irrational.
Also, I loved the amount of research that went into this. This is where some people are going to dislike this book. There's a lot of home and hearth. A lot of description of chores and baking and fishing and the landscape. I personally loved this but it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea.
The writing style worked for me. It made me feel like I was there. I could clearly picture and feel everything and I struggle with that when reading sometimes. Again, the writing style won't be for everyone.
I also really liked the characters, and how the class difference between the two main characters was handled. I liked the town's collective grief and how it didn't really bring them closer together. Maren's situation with her mother and sister-in-law was painfully believable. It wasn't rah-rah or syrupy like I was afraid might happen, it was just real.
Frankly, I didn't like the very ending that much but it didn't bother me enough to remove a star. Besides, I'm giving it extra points due to having an Arctic setting. I know this is unfair but it's my review so :P
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Torture, Religious bigotry, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Racism and Colonisation