Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
There is beauty in this story. There is love, friendship and strength. It’s just so tragic that despite it being a somewhat feminist celebration, the characters are absolutely powerless in the face of the real evil: the men in power. John (2014). "Cultural Difference and Development in the Mirror of Witchcraft - The Cultural Policy of Display at Steilneset Memorial". Nordisk Kulturpolitisk Tidsskrift (in Norwegian). 17 (2): 187–209. doi: 10.18261/ISSN2000-8325-2014-02-03. ISSN 2000-8325. My favourite character is Maren, who appears to be a witch, as she conjures up a storm to put out the fires that are about to burn the convicted witches, and she also appears to have power over animals, producing a plague of rats in the courtroom at the end of the trial. She is bold and fearless, and there is a strong suggestion that she pretends to be a witch to frighten the accusers, rather than actually being a witch – the reader is left to make their mind up on this one! Brilliant and powerful. Haunting and beautifully written. A complex and gripping novel reclaiming and retelling the stories of the women accused of witchcraft in Norway. Hugely atmospheric. Read it!’
a b Willumsen, Liv Helene (1997-01-01). "Witches of the high north". Scandinavian Journal of History. 22 (3): 199–221. doi: 10.1080/03468759708579352. ISSN 0346-8755. Anya Bergman said: ‘I am thrilled to have found the perfect home for The Witches of Vardø at Manilla Press with Kate (Parkin), Margaret (Stead), and Justine (Taylor). The team is incredibly talented and dedicated and I know they will do a fantastic job bringing my story to life. I am so grateful to my agent Marianne Gunn O’Connor for believing in me, and my passion project about the witch trials of Norway, and for bringing my work to readers all over the world.’
Browse reviews by Publisher
Sölve Nilsdotter, Margrette Jonsdotter, and two more women were burned to death in Vardø on 20 March 1663. Steilneset has become a popular stop on the Varanger scenic route, one of Norway's 18 road trips designated National Scenic Routes. The Louise Bourgeois installation at the Vardø memorial Thanks to the opening of this striking 2011 memorial, many more people are now aware of what took place in Vardø and across Finnmark in the 17th century. The Vardø witch trials This book tells the story of three women and their fight for survival against the persecution of witchcraft. admin (2016-12-28). "The evil north: Vardø's witch trials". The Norwegian American . Retrieved 2019-10-25.
The misogyny, patriarchal society and the downtrodden status of women is contrasted against the strength of the women characters. The Lutheran religion is also highly restrictive condemning dance, song and outspokenness of those accused. Equally the rights of Royality are accepted. The women are largely dependent on the men for their status and provisions. The incidences of rape are blamed on the females. All these issues are sadly relevant still in various degrees the world. The issue of accusations of witchcraft and prejudice, ignorance and cruelty (which was graphically described) did make me feel indignant. There are no witches in our village, Ingeborg, but the Devil does exist. Look into the eyes of our accusers and you will see him there.’Six women fight for survival after being blamed for the loss of the governor’s child. Wild accusations fly about their meddling with ‘weather magic’ and turning into birds and cats to steal supplies and sink ships. The irony of their so-called ability to transform into different beings yet are still captured in a fortress throughout an unforgiving Norwegian Winter is not lost. It just emphasises the real power that those in authority had to terrify and manipulate common people striving to get by, setting women and families against each other to issue blame for their hardships. These two characters take alternating chapters which rather than restricting this author, weave a compelling if occasionally slow-burning narrative (pun intended).
The Witches of Vardø is an unapologetically raw and intense novel about witch hunts and the persecution of women in pre-modern Europe. I loved Ingeborg and Maren - such strong female characters. So young but full of fight and life and with an inbuilt spirit for all the injustice women faced. Perhaps it was this remoteness that caused Finnmark to suffer a much higher rate of witch accusations than anywhere else in Norway.Roggen, Vibeke (2014-09-29), "Ambrosius Rhodius", Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian) , retrieved 2019-10-25 Anya Bergman became interested in the Witch Trials of Vardø and the vivid folk tales of the North while living in Norway. She became fascinated by the trials and the women murdered there on a visit to the Steilneset memorial, in which Louise Bourgeois and Peter Zumthor commemorated the persecution of women accused of witchcraft. Now resident in Edinburgh, Anya graduated with distinction from the Creative Writing programme at Edinburgh Napier University. Three women's fight for survival in a time of madness' Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Mercies .
My thanks to Bonnier Books U.K. Manilla Press for an eARC and to Bonnier Books U.K. Audio for a review copy of the unabridged audiobook edition, both via NetGalley, of ‘The Witches of Vardø’ by Anya Bergman. The audiobook is narrated by Sofia Engstrand. The King may think he is all-powerful, but the three women in the story shall show the world an even greater power. Told from two POV we follow the lives of Anna and Ingeborg as they both try to survive during a time where every woman can be suspected of witchcraft. Out of the two women’s stories I felt more drawn to Ingeborg’s. After losing her father and brother she becomes the glue that’s holding her family together. Her mother is withdrawn and her younger sister Kirsten depends on her for survival. Even before the main action of the story started Ingeborg showed her tenacity and strength in the face of adversary, I feel we all have a little of Ingeborg in us, waiting to be unleashed. I’d like to thank NetGalley and Zaffre UK for approving me for an ARC of this book. This was one of my highly anticipated read of 2023 and it did not disappoint. These Witches of Vardø are stronger than even the King. In an age weighted against them, they refuse to be victims. They will have their justice. All they need do is show their power. About This Edition ISBN:I'm not sure what to think of this book. It's well written style-wise, the characters are well constructed... the author's intentions are noble. But I feel conflicted about the ending. Alm, Ellen Janette. Statens rolle i trolldomsprosessene i Danmark og Norge på 1500- og 1600-tallet (Thesis, University of Tromso: 2000) Unknown (2016-04-12). "Where The Ice Burns: The Condemned Women of 1662 / 1663". Where The Ice Burns . Retrieved 2019-10-25.
Great Deal 
New Comment