The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave is a 17th century tale concerning the Vardo, Norway witch trials. If you think this sounds familiar, that’s because The Witches of Vardo by Anna Bergman features the same subject matter. While there are some shared character names and similar beautiful writing styles, the stories themselves are quiet different. While Bergman’s interpretation walks the line of magical realism, The Mercies is very much rooted in realism–the stark reality of women and their place in the harsh world of men.
The Mercies follows Maren from Vardo, whose brother and father are killed in a large storm that also took many of the village men. As such, Vardo is left as a village of women fending for themselves–even going so far as to take a boat out to fish for themselves (scandalous in 17th century Norway!) The other POV in The Mercies follows Ursula, affectionately known as Ursa, who is plucked from her home in Bergen and married off the a Scottish inspector, Absalom Cornet, who has been recently assigned to investigate Vardo. Ursa is very naive of the world outside Bergen, and of men. She is essentially thrown from the frying pan into the fire as she comes to know her husband’s sinister true nature of wanting to uncover witches in Vardo to heighten his own social status.
Maren and Ursa form a fast friendship, Maren teaching Ursa how to keep house from everything from making bread to sewing and cleaning. Hargrave builds the tension within the village, the social circles of the women growing more suspicious and cold, and the relationship between Maren and Ursa as they navigate the growing danger of Absalom’s inspection. Hargrave’s writing style and observations of the world are both beautiful and unique, making the entire read an enjoyable experience.
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