The Burnings by Naomi Kelsey will plunge you straight into one of the darkest periods of Scottish history. The fear of witchcraft was fervent in Scotland for hundreds of years. More people (mostly women) were prosecuted, with most killed, in Scotland than in any other nation in Europe. So many so, that on International Womens Day in 2022 Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issued an official apology on behalf of the Scottish government to those prosecuted for witchcraft throughout Scotland’s history.
But what if this fear could be exploited for political gain? This an interesting take on the Scottish witch trials explored in The Burnings. The novel follows several at first unrelated women who gradually become embroiled in a tangle of fear, politics and witchcraft, all ultimately linked to Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell‘s claim to the Scottish throne. A throne held by James VI, who marries his new queen Anna of Denmark at a time when fear of witchcraft is also rife in Copenhagen. Can their fragile union survive amidst treachery, storms and rumours of curses?
This book can be difficult to read at times, especially when describing the suffering of women. But it’s important for us to remember the injustices meted out to them, as although this is largely a work of fiction, the background and characters are all based on real events. Real injustices. Real suffering.
If you don’t have it already, add The Burnings by Naomi Kelsey to your TBR pile.
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