Anya Bergman

They will have justice. They will show their power. They will not burn.

'Utterly Propulsive' - Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Author of the MERCIES

The Witches of Vardo

'Three women's fight for survival in a time of madness' Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Mercies They will have justice. They will show their power. They will not burn. Norway, 1662. A dangerous time to be a woman, when even dancing can lead to accusations of witchcraft. After recently widowed Zigri's affair with the local merchant is discovered, she is sent to the fortress at Vardø to be tried as a witch. Zigri's daughter Ingeborg sets off into the wilderness to try to bring her mother back home. Accompanying her on this quest is Maren - herself the daughter of a witch - whose wild nature and unconquerable spirit gives Ingeborg the courage to venture into the unknown, and to risk all she has to save her family. Also captive in the fortress is Anna Rhodius, once the King of Denmark's mistress, who has been sent in disgrace to the island of Vardø. What will she do - and who will she betray - to return to her privileged life at court? 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. 'An intricately woven, timeless novel about prejudice, misogyny, freedom and the power and strength we can find within' - Christy Lefteri 'A passionate indictment of the patriarchy ... a vibrant exaltation of the resilience of women ... Anya Bergman summons a historic witch trial with breathtaking detail and immediacy' Hannah Kent 'A vividly atmospheric exploration of power in all its forms' Claire Askew '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!' - Liz Hyder, author of The Gifts

'Utterly propulsive' - Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of THE MERCIES

'Utterly captivating. An engrossing, propulsive novel' Hannah Kent, author of Burial Rites 'A gorgeously written, at times fantastical and deeply immersive novel' Molly Aitken, author of Bright I Burn] 'The book of the summer' Ireland AM Two women. An extraordinary power. An explosive bond. In a time of revolution, their fates will lie in the turn of a card . . . It is the early days of the French Revolution and, on the streets of Paris, terror reigns. Marie Anne Adelaide Lenormand is a young woman with an extraordinary power - through her tarot cards, she can commune with the dead, revolutionaries and the aristocracy alike seeking her out to divine their fortunes. Lenormand is loyal to Marie Antoinette and the dauphin of France, but she has seen the queen's fate in the cards and must take care that it doesn't become her own. Then, one fateful day, she comes across Cait, a scullery maid from Ireland who has travelled to Paris for love. Cait has powers too - she can read people's pasts as Lenormand reads their futures. The two young women share an electrifying connection, drawn to each other's abilities. But Cait is hiding something. What will she do - and who will she betray - to bring revolution to the shores of her beloved Ireland too? Inspired by the astonishing true story of Marie-Anne Adelaide Lenormand, The Tarot Reader of Versailles is a sweeping, powerful novel where allegiances, betrayals and even fate itself can be forged or broken by the turn of a card . . . *Selected as a Bookseller pick of the month* 'Readers who like their historical fiction laced with fantastical elements will enjoy this spirited tale' The Times '[A] propulsive epic in the company of two extraordinary women' Daily Mail 'A complex, epic and engrossing tale' Caroline Lea, author of Love, Sex & Frankenstein 'I was totally swept up in this epic story of fate and betrayal, love and intrigue. Every twist left me reeling' Danielle Giles, author of Mere 'Thrilling, compelling and beautifully woven' Aoife Fitzpatrick, author of The Red Bird Sings 'Feminist, fantastical and flawlessly imagined' Natasha Solomons 'Lush, lyrical and utterly captivating' Kim Curran, author of The Morrigan

Anya Bergman

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