(8/9/2023)
The young witches (Minna and Kaija) who live at the end of the world (Norway in 1677) have been very isolated from civilization for more than 10 years. They left their village after their mother was burned at the stake for being a witch. The girls, now young women, have lived with their grandmother, Mormor, far away from any villages, until her recent death. Minna intends to continue to survive by her skill and spells far removed from human civilization. Kaija, however, wants to pursue a new life in the village from which they came. She wants to be regarded as a young woman, not as a young witch. This separation of two very tightly-knit sisters sets up the novel's conflict.
I enjoyed this unusual premise in a novel because the author 's writing and descriptions were very vivid and believable. I also appreciated that any conflict between two sisters that grew up dependent on each other for emotional and moral support would be very complicated. There was a bit of repetition in some of the passages, but in general, the novel was unique, enjoyable and satisfying.