Released: 2020
Genre: Fiction, Drama, Historical
Kiran Millwood Hargrave is a UK writer who mainly focuses on children’s books. The Mercies is her first adult novel, taking on a historical period with a feminist lens.
In the early 17th Century, a small Norwegian community on the island of Vardo is rocked by a deadly storm that kills all the men at sea. Forced to rely on their own ingenuity, this independent group ends up drawing the attention of more sinister motives. The young Maron bears witness to this traumatic event and tries to rally her sisters to forge their own path. This is contrasted against another settlement in Bergen, one firmly dominated by arranged marriages and genteel breeding. Ursa is the lead perspective here and when she arrives on the island with her husband Absalom Cornet, her limited agency starts to open up.
The two lead characters eventually come together and form a close bond; but Absalom is ruthless God-fearing man who won’t stand for any female autonomy. Hargrave shifts focus to more dramatic tension as paranoia starts to grip Vardo. It’s a damaging change conveyed mainly through conversations. Maren and Ursa try to avoid provoking Absalom’s wrath but they are unable to prevent the ultimate outcome. The way individuals can manipulate and turn others against each other is a major theme in the narrative.
The Mercies is tied together by its detailed setting. From start to finish you get a great sense of how the women live, the tasks they pick up from their deceased husbands and fathers and the unpredictable weather. The author ensures that you’re never pulled out of the frigid hills of Northern Europe. This carries its own layer; the landscape is unforgiving but the main characters aren’t safe within the confines of their village either.
Recommended?
YES: The Mercies presents a dark and often foreboding tale of oppression. On both sides of Norway, we see the long hand of forced belief and witch-hunting descend on the characters. The way Maren and Ursa find strength in each other makes the reader care and the surrounding setting is presented beautifully.
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