Around the World in 80 Books discussion

Start discussion here for The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave.

A powerful narrative based on true facts, exposing a witch hunt in 17th century Norway. After a terrible storm on the island of Vardo, a group of women lose their fathers and husbands and are forced to support themselves. The locality becomes women's territory, and the church does not accept that women have so much power. That is why a ruled is required to control Vardo's women.

This is a disturbing book but at the same time intense, it makes us reflect on religious persecution and how mere rumors/superstitions can destroy lives. The passages reporting the judgment of the "witches" made me shiver and angry, imagining it had actually happened. The only comfort in this book was the relationship between Maren and Ursa, women with tragic fates without reaching their happy ending. It was a hard and but necessary book. It is important to be aware of the existence of these women, who died only for having defied men and not bowing to their authority.

Sara wrote: "a disturbing book but at the same time intense, it makes us reflect on religious persecution and how mere rumors/superstitions can destroy lives. The passages reporting the judgment of the "witches" made me shiver and angry..."

I have just finished reading the book and felt very much the same, it wasn't an easy read, but one I felt quite compelled to finish, feeling quite furious. Despite being fictional the book has a historical connection to actual historic occurrences including an actual storm that did wipe out all the menfolk of a Finmark village.
To think what was done in the name of Christianity under the banner and religious edict of King Christian of Norway and King James of Scotland and later England ... contributing to "The Panics" of the 16th & 17th century ... a particularly dangerous time to be a woman who did not behave with modesty and a time where political men would use ignorance and religion to further their ideals for power.