An Honest Review of Witches of Vardo by Anya Bergman

Hello to my lovely book readers!

I hope you’re all doing well. I know I’ve been MIA for a bit, but life has been keeping me on my toes with some big changes—like moving into a new place. But despite all the chaos, I managed to finish Witches of Vardo by Anya Bergman. And I have some mixed thoughts to share. I ended up rating it 2 stars, and while there are parts of it that intrigued me, quite a few aspects didn’t resonate as much.

First Impressions and the Writing Style

Let’s start with the writing. The book is easy to follow on the surface but has some pretty complex internal monologues. They’re sometimes so convoluted that it becomes hard to follow the story. Normally, a 350-page book would only take me a couple of days to finish, even with a busy schedule. However, this one stretched out to about two and a half weeks. I found myself getting bogged down by the disjointed monologues that made some scenes hard to decipher.

The Plot and Its Potential

The story does dive into a fascinating setting—Norwegian witch trials—and in this way, it reminded me a bit of the eerie atmosphere in The Lighthouse Witches. There’s a historical depth that could have been gripping, with glimpses into superstition, culture, and personal sacrifice.

I particularly enjoyed Ingeborg’s storyline. Her perspective as the daughter of an accused witch is compelling, and her meeting with another young woman—whose own mother was burned at the stake after cursing the king—promises a strong narrative about heritage, vengeance, and survival. But unfortunately, not all characters felt this fleshed out.

Character Issues and Missed Opportunities

One of the most significant drawbacks for me was how the book handled its other protagonist, Anna Rhodius. We don’t really get a sense of why she was sent to Vardo or how her life with the king connects meaningfully to the present story. There are flashbacks to her relationship with the king, but they feel isolated from the main narrative, leaving her story a bit hollow and disconnected from the more immediate struggles happening in Vardo.

The book also touches on a few intriguing side characters, such as Ellie and Maren Olufsdater, but they’re not explored as deeply as they could be. These backstories and connections might have strengthened the plot and made the world feel more immersive. With more character insight, I think the story could have been much richer and more engaging.

World-Building and Depth

When reading historical or fiction books, I don’t necessarily need a romance or happy ending to appreciate the story. Witches of Vardo had potential with its world-building, especially since I love books that vividly capture a historical setting. However, the world felt underdeveloped. If we had more insight into the cultural backgrounds or the political tensions of the time—such as the king’s feelings about witches after his father’s curse—the story could have packed a stronger punch.

What’s Next?

Next on my reading list is Haunting Prince Dracula, the second book in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series by Kerri Maniscalco. And who knows? If I get the time, I might even dive into books three and four in the series. December’s TBR is coming up soon, and I’m also hoping to mix in a few murder mysteries—and maybe even Crave by Tracy Wolff.

It’s a busy season, but I’m excited to keep sharing reviews with you. Fingers crossed for some excellent reads in the upcoming weeks. Thank you for sticking around, and I’ll see you next week for another review!

Happy reading, everyone!