The bestselling Richard and Judy Book Club pick and BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick. For readers of Circe and The Handmaid's Tale, Kiran Millwood Hargrave's The Mercies is inspired by real historical events - a story about the strength and courage of women. 'Dark, dramatic and full of danger' - Daily Mail The storm comes in like a finger snap . . . 1617. The sea around the remote Norwegian island of Vard??? is thrown into a vicious storm. A young woman, Maren, watches as the men of the island, out fishing, perish in an instant. ...
Read More
The bestselling Richard and Judy Book Club pick and BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick. For readers of Circe and The Handmaid's Tale, Kiran Millwood Hargrave's The Mercies is inspired by real historical events - a story about the strength and courage of women. 'Dark, dramatic and full of danger' - Daily Mail The storm comes in like a finger snap . . . 1617. The sea around the remote Norwegian island of Vard??? is thrown into a vicious storm. A young woman, Maren, watches as the men of the island, out fishing, perish in an instant. Vard??? is now a place of women . . . Eighteen months later, a sinister figure arrives. Absalom Cornet has been summoned to bring the women of the island to heel. With him travels his young wife, Ursa. In her new home, and in Maren, Ursa encounters something she has never seen before: independent women. But where Ursa finds happiness, even love, Absalom sees only a place flooded with a terrible evil, one he must root out at all costs . . . A story about how suspicion can twist its way through a community, about a love that could prove as dangerous as it is powerful. 'Gripping' - Madeline Miller, author of Circe 'Took my breath away' - Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl With a Pearl Earring 'A beautifully intimate story of friendship, love and hope' - Douglas Stuart, author of Shuggie Bain 'Something rare and beautiful' - Marian Keyes, author of Again, Rachel 'Chilling and page-turning' - The Times
Read Less
Add this copy of The Mercies Export to cart. $6.99, good condition, Sold by St. Vinnie's Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Eugene, OR, UNITED STATES, published 2020 by Picador.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. Paperback This item shows wear from consistent use but remains in good readable condition. It may have marks on or in it, and may show other signs of previous use or shelf wear. May have minor creases or signs of wear on dust jacket. Packed with care, shipped promptly.
Add this copy of The Mercies to cart. $15.05, good condition, Sold by Goldstone Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Ammanford, CARMS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2021 by Picador.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. Ex-Library Book. Has usual library markings and stamps inside. All orders are dispatched within 1 working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we are dedicated to recycling unwanted books on behalf of a number of UK charities who benefit from added revenue through the sale of their books plus huge savings in waste disposal. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied.
Add this copy of The Mercies to cart. $16.99, very good condition, Sold by Brit Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Milton Keynes, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2021 by Picador.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
Add this copy of The Mercies to cart. $18.19, very good condition, Sold by Greener Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from London, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2021 by Picador.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
Add this copy of The Mercies to cart. $18.71, new condition, Sold by Ria Christie Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2021 by Picador.
Add this copy of The Mercies to cart. $21.59, new condition, Sold by Media Smart rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hawthorne, CA, UNITED STATES, published by MacMillan.
Add this copy of Mercies to cart. $23.77, new condition, Sold by Revaluation Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Exeter, DEVON, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2021 by Picador.
When the majority of the men on the island of Vardø have been killed by a storm, it is up to the women to take charge - but at what cost?
I always forget that historical novels usually take me a while to get into. The Mercies was no exception; although the world is beautifully described by Karen Millwood Hargrave, I found it quite slow and hard going until the appearance of Ursa, and then I started to get into it properly. I appreciated the world-building and hadn't actually realised it was based on true events until the end of the book. The village and the characters we meet are well-drawn and detailed. The writing is poetic and really created the cold atmosphere of the village. I enjoyed the characters of Ursa and Maren and I liked how the book switched perspectives but only at key moments, not necessarily all of the time to draw me in.
However, I was a little disappointed by the plotting. I've read very similar witch-hunting type books before and I hadn't realised that was what this book would turn into. It became almost two dimensional and a little cliched when the plot began to twist towards the more 'Salem' aspects. I didn't really find any satisfaction in the ending, which I understand may have been the point they were making but as the book had been so slow to build up your relationships with the characters, it felt like a waste of the rest of the book up to that point.
Overall, The Mercies was perhaps not for me, beautifully written but slow and hard-going, with a plot that felt a little too familiar to other novels in the end. Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan - Picador for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
