Description
'This gripping, vividly evoked novel takes the reader to the dark heart of the 16th century ... unforgettable' Tracy Borman, author of The King's Witch
Nothing scares men like witchcraft...
1589. Scottish housemaid Geillis and Danish courtier Margareta lead opposite lives, but they both know one thing: when a man cries "witch", no woman is safe.
Yet when the marriage of King James VI and Princess Anna of Denmark brings Geillis and Margareta together, everything they supposed about good, evil, men, and women, is cast in a strange and brilliant new light.
For the first time in history, could black magic - or rumours of it - be a very real tool for women's political gain?
As the North Berwick witch trials whip Scotland - and her king - into a frenzy of paranoia, the clock is ticking. Can Margareta and Geillis keep each other safe? And once the burnings are over, in whose hands will power truly lie?
Inspired by the incredible true story that set 16th-century Scotland and Denmark alight, The Burnings is 2023's most bewitching debut novel, by a multi-awardwinning new star of historical fiction.
'A beautifully written re-imagining ... clever and tantalising' S.G. MacLean
READERS LOVE THE BURNINGS
'I was blown away ... so gripping, at times it was very hard to put down. I was pulled in emotionally ... I do not have any negative comments about this story at all. Brilliantly put together' Danielle Graham, (Dee, Goodreads)
'I can't recommend this highly enough. It is well written, well researched, and a totally enthralling read'
'What stands out for me is the clear level of research that went into the writing, plot and characters'
'Beautifully written, I was transported ... The author has a talent for bringing historical figures and events to life ... This reminded me of Tracy Borman's The King's Witch and I'd love to read more from this author'
'What a great story'
'This book is up there with the best of them'
The new enthralling historical novel of 2023, based on a true story
About the Author
Naomi Kelsey is the winner of two Northern Writers' Awards and of the HWA Dorothy Dunnett Competition 2021. Her fiction has been published in Mslexia magazine and shortlisted for several further awards including the Bridport Prize and the Bristol Prize. She also writes book reviews for 'On the Tudor Trail'. By day she is an English teacher in Newcastle, where she lives with her husband, their two children and their dog. The Burnings is her first novel.
Reviews
'I was mesmerised by The Burnings and its heroines. I highly recommend this brilliant and compelling novel to all lovers of historical fiction.' Laura Shepperson, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Heroines
'A gothic gem. Tense, delicate writing. Lace woven with steel threads.' Judges of the HWA Dorothy Dunnett Competition
'The best new talent from the North of England . . . This year's winners show that the next generation of creative talent has the potential to help us re-frame a post-pandemic world and better understand ourselves and our society.' Katy Shaw, Partner in the Northern Writers' Awards 2020
'The Burnings is a beautifully written re-imagining of the North Berwick witch trials with clever and tantalising glimpses into the cross-over between witchcraft and lived experience in 16th-century Scotland.' S.G. MacLean, author of The Bookseller of Inverness
'This gripping, vividly evoked novel takes the reader to the dark heart of the sixteenth century witch hunts. Witchcraft, espionage and the deadly world of the royal court fuse into a compelling, unforgettable narrative. A stunning debut.'Tracy Borman, author of The King's Witch
Book Information
ISBN 9780008534769
Author Naomi Kelsey
Format Hardback
Page Count 448
Imprint HarperNorth
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 800g
Dimensions(mm) 240mm * 159mm * 36mm
