I am always drawn to a witchcraft themed story, so it's no surprise that I loved The Witches of Vardo! Historical fiction that draws it's inspiration from the witch trials on the island of Vardo in 1600s Norway. It really does shine a light on the brutal and unjust way that women were treated but also gives a contrast scope too with strong, hopeful characters that you really do care about.

Hugely descriptive, it took me back to the brutality and visual beauty of the time and really helped to make it all feel so real. Perfect for lovers of historical fiction.

I love any books set around witches. The witches of Vardo was such a good book and I really enjoyed the authors writing

This is a work of historical fiction set in the mid 1600s in Norway and Denmark. It is based on the horrifying true story of several women who were accused of witchcraft and sent to the island of Vardo.
I enjoyed reading it but found it profoundly sad. Having said that, it is beautifully written and gave me a real insight into life in Norway during this period.

3.5 stars

I've read a fair few books about witch trials, so at some point part of the book is just going to feel very similar.
Bergmann sets the scene nicely though, and writes well about a subject matter lots of us are familiar with, and still manages to make me feel disgust and injustice at the way ordinary (and not so ordinary) women were treated in the past.

3.5 Stars
One Liner: Mixed feelings

1660s Norway
Anna Rhodius is a physician and a mistress of the King of Denmark in her younger days. She is shipped to Vardø in disgrace, though her heart yearns for her previous lifestyle, and makes a deal that could affect many lives, including hers.
Zigri has lost her son and husband to the sea. She begins an affair with a merchant and is accused of witchcraft and sent to Vardø for a trial.
Ingeborg, Zigri’s sixteen-year-old daughter, is determined to save her mother. This is easier said than done in times when women could be arrested, tortured, and killed with little or no evidence.
Maren, the daughter of Liren Sand, the most powerful witch in Denmark, helps Ingeborg. However, can they achieve their goals, or will the women and children face the same brutal fate as others accused of witchcraft?
The story comes in the first-person POV of Anna (addressing King Frederick in the second person) and the third-person POV of Ingeborg.

My Thoughts:
Books about witch trials in different parts of Europe share similar stories of abuse, patriarchy, misogyny, and religious violence against women. This one is no different. The setting is atmospheric and adds to the intensity of the theme.
The core parts are done well, presenting how women ended up being accused as witches and burned to death. The cruelty of the royalty also comes across clearly in the narrative. The mistrust and hatred for the indigenous community and their sufferings because of it are spot on. The bits about the Sami community are also well-presented, and I’d have preferred more of it.
The folktales added in between are wonderful. They should have distracted me from the story, but I found them more interesting (since the story tends to drag in many places).
The plot requires strong characters to enhance the reader’s emotions. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen here. Giving Anna a first-person POV doesn’t seem like a good idea. She sounds whiny, delusional, self-righteous, pretentious, and judgmental. Her addressing the king in the second person is the most annoying thing in the book. I skimmed through her chapters in the second half.
Ingeborg starts out as an intriguing character but soon becomes a mess. While I understand her conditioning to love her mother (no matter what), it still doesn’t make her arc any better. Maren shows great promise but ends up stereotypical. Zigri is an example of why some people should not have kids. Only Kristen makes me feel sad for her. She’s a victim in almost every sense.
A book about witches should have strong magic realism or be utterly realistic. This haphazard blend of both doesn’t help the narrative. It almost feels like the ‘magical’ bits are a later addition.
If not for the violence, I’d classify this as a YA novel. The dialogues are made it seem like one. One advantage of it is that I could speed-read and not miss anything (0.5 stars extra for this). The emotions just don’t hit the mark, making it easy to stay detached and rush ahead instead of lingering and feeling for the characters.
Despite the dark events and deaths, the book has happy endings for a couple of characters. I did like that, though one of them felt like stretching things a little too much (this comes from a HEA lover).
However, the author’s note at the end is insightful. The glossary is detailed (I didn’t expect one, so that’s a plus), and there’s a list of recommended reads. I love that the author listed the names of women who lost their lives in the witch trials. They need to be acknowledged.

To summarize, The Witches of Vardø deals with an important theme and presents yet another story of witch trials we should never forget. However, it could have been shorter, better, and more impactful.
Thank you, NetGalley, Bonnier Books UK, and Manilla Press, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

4 ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.

The author does a really good job of working with what actually happened with also creating a fictitious narrative.

Having read a few books about remote Norway/Denmark and witches or the like, I found this book to have really strong characters, which clear voices so I knew whose POV I was in as well as a compelling overall story.

This book, it’s just fantastic, it is such a great read. I like historical fiction but don’t always read a lot of it, but I’m so glad I read this, it’s so well researched, I love it when you learn from books you enjoy, I mean we learn from every book we read, but this was like a lesson for me, without being aware and thoroughly enjoying being taught, it’s so compelling too. I love the history of witches, witchcraft, the persecution of women (on the whole) of anyone different, or speaking out against power, doctrine, the norm. Women were and are powerful, it’s what the patriarchy is scared of, the shared knowledge of our power, that we aren’t weak and helpless. I need more books like this, it’s a harsh and often hard read, but it’s full of love, hope, loyalty, strength , a truly magical story.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in return for an honest opinion

Inspired by the witch hunts on the island of Vardo in 1661-1662, this is an atmospheric and well-researched read. Beautiful prose and unforgettable characters, The Witches of Vardo is a unique debut.

Off the northern-most coast of Norway lies the small island of Vardø, site in the mid-seventeenth century of a notorious series of witch trials. Anya Bergman's novel brings us a fictional account of those times, seen from two points of view - that of wealthy Anna Rhodius, imprisoned in this remote fortress by her former lover, the King; and that of sixteen year ago fisherman's daughter, Ingeborg, whose mother is falsely accused of witchcraft. Ingeborg desperately wants to save her mother, and will go to any lengths to do so. Anna meanwhile is interested in protecting herself and negotiating a way to return to her former life.
The numbers involved in the real trials were horrific (91 people executed over a period of years) but Bergman has reduced them to handful without losing any of the terror and helplessness that these women must have experienced. As is frequently the case, there's a trail of fear and misogyny behind the accusations - women denounced for 'seducing' married men, the local Sami people victimised for being 'different', anyone who vaguely steps beyond the rigid bounds of propriety being considered fair game. And the treatment of women in general, as totally subordinate to men, and threatened for voicing their own opinions, is unthinkable now.
Although I'd heard of many instances of witch-hunts, from Pendle to Salem, Scotland to Essex, I hadn't realised that the fervour for them had spread to Norway, apparently influenced by King James VI (Scotland) and I (England), and his writings on Daemonologie. Reading The Witches of Vardø led me off down a lot of wormholes, finding more about the historical events, and learning more about the remote landscape of its setting.

The is a harrowing fictional retelling of the witch trials in Norway of 1662. The research into one villages accused is apparent right from the first chapter and I admire the talent of Anya Bergman's writing for captivating me and whisking me away to the frozen past of Vardø. This story will boil your blood and infuriate. It was make your heart ache and your eyes tear up with the cruelty subjected to these fisherwomen who were unfortunate enough to be attractive, loud, have a mental illness, be not pale enough, have a disability or just widowed and surviving. I loved this book so much and I will recommend it to anyone who enjoys witch trial retellings.

Based on the real Finnmark witch trials of 1662-63 The Witches of Vardø is a hauntingly beautiful book. Having loved Kiran Millwood Hargrave’s The Mercies, I was delighted to discover another author looking at the Scandinavian trials.

Told from the perspectives of two very different narrators, proud, privileged Anna and young, impressionable Ingeborg, The Witches of Vardø shows how no woman was safe from persecution as a witch. Ingeborg is easy to love. She cares deeply for her family and is willing to do whatever it takes to protect them, even if that means venturing towards people she has only ever been warned away from. On the other hand, Anna was a character who I was fully prepared to hate at the start of the book, but as her story unfolded, I found I ended up pitying her. She is a complex woman who did what she thought was the best she could with the hand she was dealt.

This book is beautifully researched with wonderfully rich descriptions of the landscape and climate – it made me positively shivery reading it at times, and very glad for my bog fluffy blanket! Through Bergman’s detailed descriptions of the conditions they were kept in, it is easy to see how women would confess to being witches if it would save them from barbaric interrogation tactics and torture, or in the hope a confession would spare the lives of those they loved. The inclusion of traditional Norwegian and Samí stories add real depth to this book and really help bring the characters to life.

As you will know, I read a lot of books about witches, both fantasy and based on factual trials, and The Witches of Vardø is up there with the best that I have read. I am excited for what is to come next from the pen/keyboard of Anya Bergman.

‘Who do you think the witches are, Ingeborg?’ ‘I don’t know,’ she faltered, ‘but not my mother—’ ‘The witches are the outcasts,’ Maren said. ‘Those who are different. Spat at. Defiled and abused. Together we lift ourselves up, we give each other strength.’

Wow. Where to start! A historical fiction masterpiece set in 1662 on the remote island of Vardø, in Norway. We have witches, folktales, a strong feminist underpinning and then Anya Bergman’s exquisitely crafted writing to take your breath away. Based on the real life witch trials, the depth of research behind this story is evident in every page.

Many deep and complex themes are explored including loss, grief and myriad feminist constructs. Anya’s writing really hit home, whilst being captivating and beautiful too.

My favourite folktale was the fisher girl. It will stay with me for a long time, just like this brilliant and very polished debut.

The Witches of Vardø is a perfect read for fans of Kiran Millwood Hargrave and C.J. Cooke.
There are similar themes to The Mercies and The Glass Woman too. (We strongly recommend both!)

Thank you for the gifted e-arc and for having us on the Compulsive Readers Book tour.

The Witches of Vardo is a compelling, dark and emotional historical tale of loyalty, female strength, magic and betrayal. Its impactful and the unexpected ending showcased its strength in storytelling.

Told in two voices, the reader sees the story from the viewpoint of the accused and those against them, gave a full experience of the events. The smattering of mythology and folk tales blended in added depth and context to the magical side to the novel.

Daughter of a physician, Anna is outspoken, and intelligent and used to the finer things in life and in exile to Vardo. Like many characters in this book, she is complex and multifaceted. I wanted to dislike her; but when her life story was revealed their stance wavered. Was she a woman with good intentions trapped by circumstance? Or pure evil. Book clubs will have fun unpicking their thoughts.

Ingeborg’s chapters highlighted the harsh realities of the fishing village she lives in where poverty is rife, women vulnerable and superstition thrives. Young, she has grown up too fast to care for her younger sister Kirsten while battling her own grief with the loss of her brother. Loss and grief are consistent themes in the book, exploring how its power can lead to unwise decisions with far reaching consequences. Her loyalty, level headedness and love for family shone on the page making everyone eager for her to succeed on her mission to rescue her mother when she became entangled with a frenzy of hate, fuelled by misogyny and ability to use the accusation of witch as punishment for any misdemeanour or perceived fault.

Maren, daughter of a feared and infamous witch provided the mystical elements to the novel with her fantastical stories, unreliable narration and unwavering strength. She added to the are they or aren’t they witches thread that cleverly ran throughout.

I was completely immersed in the 17th century world Anya Bergman created thanks to the small details in character, location, dress and experience. I could taste the sugar almonds and feel the pleasure of seeing the Northern lights. The research must have been immense and I was thrilled to discover a reading list at the back of the book so I can explore things more for themselves.

The Witches of Vardø tells the story of four women who become unwittingly involved in a witch-hunt in Norway in the late 1600s. Anna has been banished to Vardø by the King, a man she had known and trusted for years. Anna is forced to make a bargain with the Governor on the island to save herself, but this bargain will put the lives of other women accused of unrealistic crimes (perceived at the time as witchcraft) at risk.

Ingeborg has lost both her fisherman father and brother at sea. Starving and alone in bringing up her remaining two daughters, Ingeborg's mother, Zigri, is initially forced to become involved with Heinrich Brasche in order to avoid paying back debts to his family she can in no way afford. As she begins to fall for Heinrich, his wife becomes aware of the affair and accuses her of witchcraft.

After Zigri is sent to Vardø to face trial, Ingeborg and Maren (the daughter of another woman who died after being accused of witchcraft) attempt to travel to Vardø to save her, but can these women face up to the men who have cast them out as accomplices to the devil?

I knew from the moment that I saw the title of this book that I was going to love it. It combines two of my favourite things - books about witchcraft and books set in Scandinavia - and it lived up to all of my expectations!

I adored the traditional Norwegian folk tales that were woven seamlessly into the story, and the explorations into the culture of the Sámi people were so fascinating. The fact that simply wanting a different type of nomadic lifestyle meant that you would be seen as outsiders (which translated into witchcraft), and led to these people putting their own lives and the lives of their families at risk is heartbreaking.

I know that 'witch' books are very popular at the moment, but this is so much more than a book about witches. It's a novel about women taking back control, it's a story about traditions and folklore, about the unrealistic expectations forced upon women, and about breaking free from men in positions of authority. Reading about these topics in the context of the witch trials is why the story is so successful. I loved every second of it and am heading straight off to research more about the real Vardø witch trials which inspired the book - I think I'm a little obsessed!

This was such an insightful atmospheric immersive read set in a memorable location. It is one of the best books I've read that is centered around witch trials and will definitely be one of my top books of the year!

The story is set on the remote island of Vardo as well as a fishing village in Norway in the 1660s. Daily life for people living here was incredibly hard and there was often very little food or heat. It was easy to see in this climate how the fear, distrust and resentment of women could lead to these awful accusations that came so easily.
The story alternates between two women. Anna was living a good life amongst the nobility until she was banished as a prisoner to Vardo by the King.
The interlinking story is of Ingeborg, daughter of a fisherman who died in a seastorm. Ingeborg's family are left with nothing and to help repay their debts and have food to eat the mother Zigri starts a relationship with the married son of the Manor. This is a dangerous situation however and soon Zigri finds herself accused of witchcraft and taken to Vardo along with the other female family members to await trial.
The women in the story are such great, strong characters. It was horrific what they had to endure and how they even survived in the awful witches hole in Vardo. This book is shockingly based very closely on actual events. It is so well written that you will feel as though you have actually visited this gruelling island and experienced the chilling, dark, horror that awaited these resilient women and children in the lead up to their trial.
This is a haunting and captivating story that will definitely stay with me. A must read for historical fiction fans.

‘The Witches of Vardo’ is a beautifully haunting tale based around true events on a tiny island in the north of Norway. As a mass fan of historical fiction I was looking forward to reading this book and it did not disappoint. If you picked this book up with no idea about it you would never know it was a debut! It’s such a strong opening novel from this author that I am already excited about what is coming next! Its prose was hauntingly beautiful, especially when detailing the Sami tales, and this was an evocative read. One made all the authentic for the reader since it is based around real events and real people who were put on trial for being witches in this period.

I absolutely loved all the Sami elements, references to Odin and the biofrost. It made for an added element to what could have been a general book about women being put to trial. It is clearly an impeccably researched book as it's truth radiates off the page. Plus, when their is a bibliography at the back you know it has been written by a lover of history. It comes across an authentic and a very real cry from the women of Vardo. It also looks at the relationships between the women and a woman’s place in society. The family dynamics between Ingeborg and her mother and sister was astounding, especially when it comes to her mother's suspicions of her youngest daughter.

I loved this book! Let me know if you read it!

This book, it’s just fantastic, it is such a great read. I like historical fiction but don’t always read a lot of it, but I’m so glad I read this, it’s so well researched, I love it when you learn from books you enjoy, I mean we learn from every book we read, but this was like a lesson for me, without being aware and thoroughly enjoying being taught, it’s so compelling too. I love the history of witches, witchcraft, the persecution of women (on the whole) of anyone different, or speaking out against power, doctrine, the norm. Women were and are powerful, it’s what the patriarchy is scared of, the shared knowledge of our power, that we aren’t weak and helpless. I need more books like this, it’s a harsh and often hard read, but it’s full of love, hope, loyalty, strength , a truly magical story.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in return for an honest opinion

Based on real witch trials from 16th century Norway, The Witches of Vardo is sublime historical fiction, in a world and time when witches were greatly feared by everyone and blamed for anything that went wrong in society from deadly waves to crops failing.

The story is told through chapters alternating between Anna & Ingeborg's perspectives. Anna is 47 & has come from a privileged place in society where she regarded the King as a friend, though he has now banished her to the island of Vardo, famed for the presence of witches. Anna is convinced that the King has sent her there to hunt out the witches, despite her being poorly treated and kept as a prisoner and she vows to be loyal to his unspoken wishes.
Ingeborg is the daughter of a fisherman who died at sea in a storm caused by witches, and whose mother Zigri is now having a relationship with the married son of the Lord of the Manor against all advice. They live in North Norway, close to Vardo and fear it greatly. Ingebord becomes friends with Maren, whose mother was the most infamous witch of them all. When Zigri is accused of witchcraft and shipped to Vardo, their stories become intertwined as all the women fight to save their lives.

The story is so atmospheric, you can feel the hardship and isolation of the women's lives. It is a bleak and relentless search for food and warmth with little in the way of fun, even dancing is banned. Local folklore is woven into the story in a beautiful way.

The sense of injustice is very strong throughout the book; the powerlessness of women being accused of witchcraft by powerful men with no right to reply is heart-breaking. No-one will listen to the women telling the truth; once their accusers have made their claims, there is little they can do.

It is clear that the book has been based on solid research with a list of references at the back for further reading.

The women's story is going to stay with me for a long time, powerful writing.

This is a compelling and, at times, harrowing read made even more distressing when you realise it is based on true events. That said, it is beautifully written, and I couldn't wait to pick it up each day and find out what would happen next. The tale covers the story of Ingeborg, her mother Zigri, her sister Kirsten and her cousin Maren all who find themselves trapped on the island of Vardo awaiting trial for witchcraft along with Maren's aunt, Solve and a local woman from their village. You are transported to the icy bitterness of Norwegian weather and terrain. I couldn't imagine how these women survived long enough to reach trial, given the conditions they were forced to live in and the torture they experienced at the hands of their captors.

In addition to the characters awaiting trial, another narrative runs through the book, which belongs to Anna and her story of being imprisoned on Vardo. She caused much internal conflict for me as a reader. In one way, I hated what she was doing, yet in another; she was put in an impossible situation. When her backstory is revealed, it is heartbreaking in many ways, and we get to understand her motivations a little more.

If you know anything about the witch trials, you'll be aware of how unjust and terrible they were, and this book had me raging at a society that enabled women to be treated this way. It seems impossible to think these things took place and were accepted, but in a climate of fear, no one was prepared to stand up against the system, for they, too, would be accused of being a witch.

In addition to the main story, some elements of magical realism provided depth and meaning and were beautifully created.

This, like The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, is a book that will stay with me and one I'll recommend to others. I connected with the main characters and wanted the best outcomes for all of them and comeuppance for those who imprisoned them. It is a challenging and emotional read, not for the fainthearted.

Five stars and even more impressive when you realise it's a debut novel for the author.

The Witches Of Vardø is an atmospheric, chilling and absorbing read that will stayed with me.

The story is told from the point of view of three women: Anna, Ingeborg and Maren who all help bring a different element to the story. I wasn’t really sure about Anna to begin with as I was never completely sure about her motives and whose side she was on. As such it took me a little while to warm to her despite the awful situation she finds herself in. I loved Ingeborg who bought a little bit of innocence into the story and Maren who seemed a very feisty, independent lady. I enjoyed watching their friendship develop and the way they helped each other through things.

I didn’t know anything about the Norwegian witch trials so I found it fascinating to discover more about them. It was really chilling to learn how awfully they were treated and how women could be harshly punished for the smallest crimes or suspicion. It made my blood boil to read about it and my heart went out to all the women who might have suffered.

The author does a great job of setting the scene and I really felt transported to Norway like I was experiencing everything alongside the women. I felt like I could actually feel the biting cold, smell the awful accommodation Anna finds herself in and feel the fear of the characters situation. It made me glad that the world has moved on from this time.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and can’t believe it’s the author’s debut. The story did start a little slow but soon became very gripping as there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. The tension in the book slowly creeps up until it’s almost palpable which meant I read far to late into the night. If you’re a fan of absorbing historical fiction then I highly recommend this book.

Huge thanks to Tracey for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Bonnier for my copy of this book.