Synopsis
Women whisper secrets to each other; it is how we survive.
1589. Princess Anna of Denmark is betrothed to King James VI of Scotland. Before they can wed, Anna must pass the trial period: one year of marriage to prove herself worthy of being Scotland’s new Queen. Determined to fulfil her duties to King and country, Anna resolves to be the perfect royal bride. Until she meets Lord Henry . . .
By her side is Kirsten Sorenson, her loyal and pious lady-in-waiting. But, whilst tending to Anna’s every need, Kirsten has her own secret motives for the royal marriage to succeed . . .
Meanwhile, in North Berwick, young housemaid Jura practises the healing charms taught to her by her mother. When she realizes she is no longer safe, she escapes to Edinburgh, only to find herself caught up in the witchcraft mania that has gripped not just the capital, but the new queen . . .
My Review
It’s 1589 and Princess Anna of Denmark and her lady in waiting begin their journey from Denmark to Scotland hoping that they have left behind the hysteria about witches. Little do they know Scotland is also affected and a young housemaid in North Berwick called Jura is accused of witchcraft. But what connects these three women and what will happen when their paths cross.
If you loved The Maidens as much as I did then this is a book that you will love just as much. What I love about the author’s writing style is that I am swept away to another world and the narrative is easy to follow. What also attracted me to this book was that it featured the witch trials and a time in history that I knew very little about. By fictionalising this time in history especially the North Berwick witch trials it has prompted me to want to learn more.
I was absolutely captivated by the storyline. I found myself transported to 1589 to not only Denmark but then to Scotland. The story is told from the narrative of three characters: Princess Anna of Denmark, Kirsten Sorenson and Jura Craig. Princess Anna of Denmark is betrothed to King James VI of Scotland and is soon to be the new Queen of Scotland. Her future looks certain until she meets Lord Henry a Scottish ambassador who accompanies her during the journey to Scotland and the two become close. The issue that Anna faces is that she doesn’t know King James and has never met him but she does get to know Lord Henry and the two fall in love. Kirsten is Anna’s lady in waiting who accompanies Anna to Scotland. She isn’t just any lady in waiting she is one that has a vested interest in not only Anna’s marriage but in also going to Scotland. Jura is a young housemaid who makes healing charms, a craft she learned from her late mother. When she refutes the advances of her master she is accused of witchcraft not only on her master but also trying to cause harm to Anna during the voyage to Scotland.
The story does start on an ominous tone with Anna and Kirsten watching a witch burning and it is this that sets the scene for the rest of the book. It felt a little like a foretelling of what was to come. When I started to read I wasn’t sure how all three women were connected. It was clear how Anna and Kirsten were connected but I didn’t understand how Jura came into the picture but as the story unfolded all was explained. It was a bit like receiving the last piece in a jigsaw puzzle because then everything made sense and the bigger picture was revealed. I did feel really sorry for Jura especially because of how she is treated. She is tortured to prove she is a witch but the decision about her status has already been made by those around her. The story also highlighted the hysteria and paranoia surrounding the issue of witchcraft, how anyone could be accused of it and how confessions were obtained from the accused many of which were given under duress and were false.
A story about hysteria, paranoia and witchcraft.
Author Bio
Kate Foster has been a national newspaper journalist for over twenty years. Growing up in Edinburgh, she became fascinated by its history and often uses it as inspiration for her stories. The Maiden won the Bloody Scotland Pitch Perfect 2020 prize for new writers. She lives in Edinburgh with her two children.
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