Reviews

The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

c_flint's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

thetoastedbagel's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

ryner's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A catastrophic storm off the coast of northeastern Norway has taken the lives of nearly all the men in the small island community of Vardø. In the aftermath, as the women remaining cope with the tragic loss and are focused on their future survival, some members of the community become convinced that nefarious forces (i.e., witchcraft) were the cause of the storm.

I enjoyed Hargrave's writing, and in particular the research done into 16th-century Norwegian culture and language. I did find the climax to be oddly anticlimactic, and there were a few weird story beats. Overall, it was all right. Had the story not been based on actual historical events I'm not sure there would have been enough there for me to recommend it.

tracytho's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

catpanda1's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

balconyflowers's review against another edition

dark reflective 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? Yes

5.0

pran's review against another edition

dark hopeful sad medium-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? No

3.75

peachilli's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense

5.0

rosewolfeemery's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

sarahboudereads's review against another edition

5.0

The sea, the wind, the salt in the air. Take me back.

I don't read a lot of historical fiction but I'm so glad I read this one (it's sapphic!!!). The author takes us on such a ride, on a secluded island that felt so real I could almost taste the salt in the wind. It transported me, made me feel loneliness, pain, love, yearning, rage, tenderness and hatred like they were my own emotions.

I personally chose to ignore the ending and that's finale.