A review by sams84
The Witches of Vardø by Anya Bergman

5.0

This is a superb novel that captures the horrific truth of the witch hunts in Norway in the 1660s, and those repeated around the world before and since, and how damaging they were (are) and how women still held on to their dignity and strength despite them all. This story follows Zigri and her daughter Ingeborg as Zigri angers the wrong woman and pays for it with her freedom and Ingeborg is determined to return her home. This is a heartwarming story of female strength of all kinds, in the face of all barriers, judgements, and losses set in a time and place where the cold is only outdone by the icy hearts of those in power (sound familiar?). Having read this, I immediately passed it to my mum to read and it is now doing the rounds with every woman in my life. This is a superb book that is somehow a debut too. I cannot wait to read more from Bergman.