Anya Bergman – The Witches of Vardo

Released earlier this month, Anya Bergman’s The Witches of Vardo is mesmerising. If you’ve yet to get yourself a copy of this illustrious new novel, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

According to her bio, Bergman found herself drawn to Norweigan history – specifically the witch trials of the 17^th Century – while living  in the country. It is this fascination that led to her new novel The Witches of Vardo, which is due or the online praise it’s been getting from advance readers and reviewers alike.

The Witches of Vardo is the story of three young women from different backgrounds and places around Norway. Anna has been exiled to Vardo as the King’s prisoner and lives in the fortress under the watchful eye of the governor – who in turn is hellbent on capturing witches of the region.

As the daughter of the court physician, Anna is eager to return to life in the palace and sees reluctantly agrees to interigate accused women in exchange for a royal pardon.

Ingeborg has grown up in a fishing village where she enjoys a simple, happy life. But when her brother and father are lost at sea, her mother starts to lose her senses and leads the family into disarray.

With no way out, it’s left to Ingeborg to help her mother see the errors of her ways, which is how she meets, Maren – whose mother was rumoured to be a famed witch and her father a pirate. It is here that our tale begins.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a historical fiction book that has drawn me in as well as The Witches of Vardo. From early on in my reading, I knew that this was a novel I was going to love. It captivated me from the first chapter and compelled me to read on until the very last page.

In Bergman’s capable hands, the isle of Vardo, and the accused witches are brought to life. Her characters are three dimensional, with stories that are atmospheric and create emotional connections that have you rooting for their happiness and success.

With a novel so heavily steeped in historical events, it can be difficult for authors to walk that fine line between telling a story while not “info dumping” and overwhelming readers with too much detail uncovered during their own research. It is Bergman’s handling of this – as well as the fictional components of the novel – that makes The Witches of Vardo stand out among others in the genre.

At no point did I feel I was reading a historical account, rather than a work of fiction. Yet there was just enough detail sprinkled throughout the tale to explain the events of the past I wasn’t aware of. The ability to do this well – as I’ve said – is evidence of a great writer and one of the reasons Anya Bergman’s work is something I would look forward to reading more of in the future.

It may sound cliché, but there’s no better word for describing The Witches of Vardo than spellbinding. Full of lively, vivid characters with emotional backstories that really connect the reader to Norway in the 17^th century, I would truly say this book is something of a masterpiece of historical fiction.

The Witches of Vardo is out now through Allen & Unwin and Manilla Press.