Pages: 320
Published: 6th June 2024
Genre: Historical Fiction
Content warnings: Misogyny, torture, sexual reference
- Princess Anne of Denmark is betrothed to King James VI of Scotland – a royal union designed to forever unite the two countries. But first, she must pass the trial period: one year of marriage in which she must prove herself worthy of being Scotland’s new Queen. If the King and the Scottish royal court in Edinburgh find her wanting, she faces permanent exile to a convent. Determined to fulfil her duties to King and country, Anne resolves to be the perfect royal bride. Until she meets Lord Henry.
By her side is Kirsten Sorenson, her loyal and pious lady’s maid. But whilst tending to Anne’s every need, she has her own secret motives for the royal marriage to be a success . . .
Meanwhile, in North Berwick, a young housemaid by the name of Jura is dreaming of a new life. She practises the healing charms taught to her by her mother, and when she realises she is no longer safe under her master’s roof, she escapes to Edinburgh. But it isn’t long before she finds herself caught up in the witchcraft mania that has gripped not just the capital but the new queen . . .
Once upon a time, just the slightest ounce of misfortune or change in the weather could be perceived as witchcraft. The moment suspicion was cast on a woman of ignoble standing who happened to be nearby, their fate was already sealed, but only after an inhumane and sickeningly farcical form of torture. In the UK, this was never more prevalent than during the reign of James VI of Scotland, and this truly wonderful novel acts as a powerful, elegant portrayal of this cruel chapter of history.
There are of course plenty of sad and unsettling scenes to be found here and the author frames them so skilfully that it wrings out all the emotions we could possibly feel in those moments, but rather than simply being a tale of woe, this story is imbued with tension and thrills. A lot of that is down to the compelling voices of three fantastic female narrators, each of whom bring unique perspectives and are survivors in their own way.
The way in which all the characters are brought to life with such vivid clarity, gives the plot a real fluency and a very tangible energy that simmers throughout, keeping us transfixed. There are high stakes for all three women and it is all effortlessly worth investing in, with the superbly imagined fictional elements sliding neatly into place alongside the historical fact.
King James’ notorious fascination with the supernatural and campaign of persecution make him the obvious villain of the piece, but pleasingly his portrayal is a long way from that of a caricature. The author does him justice by revealing the many layers the man himself undoubtedly possessed including his often rumoured homosexuality, yet while each of the narrators find themselves at his mercy, quite rightly no attempt is made to downplay his sins.
One standout factor that allows this book to be consistently excellent is that all three narrators and their storylines are just as captivating as each other. Anna arrives in Scotland as a reflection of youthful innocence but at the same time, is not naïve. Her discomfort at being alone with James and witness to his deadly obsessions is affecting to read, while the relationship with Henry of Roxburgh is portrayed in a mature way that makes its resolution all the more effective.
However, the most interesting character dynamic is that between Anna and her nursemaid Kirsten, who out of nowhere becomes the most beguiling narrator of all. We get to know a little of Kirsten’s backstory early on but as more begins to emerge, her significance to the story unfurls before our eyes as she goes from an authoritative moral guide for Anna to someone with a great sense of independence and extraordinary motivations of her own. In some ways, she is the book’s biggest revelation.
As for Jura, she provides such a contrast to the others and showcases the author’s ability to switch between style and tone. Her chapters begin much more informally as she finds small pleasures in her impoverished life, aided by the fact her voice is written partially in Scottish dialect and archaic spellings, a stylistic choice that only adds to her character.
We see Jura become an increasingly significant part of the story, and you really grow protective of her as she stands accused of being a witch. These scenes become uncomfortable to read, owing to how powerless she is at the mercy of James and his like-minded associate Hemmingtson, who is the kind of character who just makes your skin crawl.
We are treated to some fabulous imagery with the settings, as we follow Anna and Kirsten along their voyage across the North Sea to James’ royal household. From the wildness of the glens to the quietly sinister scheming within the castle walls, the atmosphere is spot on and just like Kate Foster’s debut The Maiden, it all feels distinctly and engagingly Scottish.
The writing contains no shortage of depth either, and it strikes the ideal balance – articulate but not overly descriptive; pulling no punches but sufficiently down-to-earth. Each of the first-person narratives are realised in a way that evokes powerful emotions, and the author shows impressive judgement of how hard they should land. There is nothing melodramatic, just a sound understanding of what makes good storytelling. The final scene between Anna and Henry is a standout example of this.
Overall, this is a historical fiction that teems with literary quality, telling a fascinating story that acts as one of the most convincing portrayals of witch trials we may ever come across. There are sad moments of course but we experience them alongside three women from different walks of life who are conjured into being by an author who barely puts a foot wrong. A riveting read that can only be described as a royal success.
I was consumed by this book. It is wonderfully written, powerfully plotted, and all three main perspectives were strong in their own individual ways. I loved this one more than Kate Foster’s debut, The Maiden.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Stephen Reads Books 