In the early 1600s, a storm struck the northern coast of Norway, killing 40 fishermen from the small island of Vardo, leaving the women of the village to fend for themselves. A few years later, a commissioner and his wife came to town, shortly followed by a series of witch trials that were initially meant to ferret out the old ways of the Sami, but soon came to include any women who were doing "unwomanly" deeds. This much is true.
What The Mercies offers is the emotional story of Vardo's women in the days following the storm and into the beginnings of the witch hunt. It's powerful, it's beautifully written, and it focuses on a location and series of events that are unknown to most of the world. It's not a particularly uplifting read, but wow, is it wonderfully presented. Highly recommended.
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