Two sisters are torn apart after their mother is burned at the stake. Minna stays in the darkness of the forest while Kaija goes into the village to start afresh. In a fit of rage, Minna unleashes a curse that spirals out of control, destroying everything Kaija loves in the process.

The Witches at the End of the World is a historical family drama told from the dual perspectives of two sisters that are witches. I loved seeing things from both points of view. Both sisters took such different paths after the traumatic death of their mother. Kaija is sweet, hard working, and determined to build something better for herself, even if she has to act normal. Minna prefers to fully embrace being a witch, but she can be reckless and temperamental. That said, the book was pretty slow for my tastes. The first half is a lot of story set up with most of the true action happening in the second half. Also, the characters didn't actually interact a lot. A good chunk of the story was the sisters' internal dialogues, and while that definitely gave good context, it slowed pacing down and took away from their interactions with basically everyone else. A+ for world building, but not for character building or character relationships. Ultimately, this was a slow read that does pay dividends if you decide to push through. It is saved by its engrossing atmosphere as long as you don't require deep characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all views expressed are my own.

This is a fascinating look into a time and place where anything out of the ordinary--fewer fish being caught, the church catching fire, an illness--is thought to be the work of witches, and people are burned...only here, magic really does exist. But it's not always the people who are accused. Two sisters, both witches, are scarred after seeing their mom burn at the stake and leaving their village forever. Years later, one seeks revenge and the other wants to go home. Chaos ensues.

I really enjoyed exploring this world with some Norwegian lore and even words thrown in. Swapping POVs between sisters each chapter makes it interesting. I think it would add depth and tension to add one or two of the villagers. Overall, though, I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys stories with a grounded take on magic and familial relationship challenges with childhood trauma.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Chelsea Iversen twice now, both times prior to actually reading The Witches at the End of the World. It had me so interested in reading this debut, and of course, I can't help but mention how beautiful and cool I think the cover is! This story is based on sisters, but really speaks to the witchcraft panic that spread through Finnmark, Norway. I know little about the witch trials that occurred especially in places other than Salem, and while this didn't actually contain any of the trials themselves, it was still a very eye-opening experience for me. I loved the alternating chapters between Kaija and Minna, and it was nice getting to see the contrast between what was going on with Minna in the forest with her magic and Kaija in the village trying to hold hers back.

I really enjoyed the audiobook and thought that Liz Pearce & Amy Scanlon did such wonderful jobs with their characters. I am also really glad that there were 2 narrators as I just don't think it would have been the same with only 1. Pearce and Scanlon really did the story justice in my opinion and they were also very pleasant to listen to and easy to understand. And I can't deny they also helped keep me engaged since the pacing was quite a bit slower than I was expecting it to be. There is definitely a revenge aspect to the story, but I was honestly hoping it would be a bit more aggressive than it actually ended up being and I was left wanting more of the rage that the synopsis promised. All in all, I found The Witches at the End of the World to be a very compelling debut, and I can't wait to see what Iversen publishes next!

"The Witches at the End of the World" by Chelsea Iversen is a captivating tale that weaves a spellbinding narrative around the two sisters, their enchanting journey, and the profound lessons they discover. I found myself utterly engrossed, as the magic infused into every page kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to unravel the next twist in their mystical adventure. The sorrow and growth experienced by the characters were portrayed with a heartbreakingly beautiful touch, leaving a lasting impression. Iversen's storytelling prowess shines through, creating a world where the bonds of sisterhood and the magic within us resonate long after the final page is turned.

This is a debut novel from Iverson and I have high hopes for her. Her descriptions and scene settings are in a word: stunning. My biggest issue with this book it is about 88% inner monologue/descriptions and only 12 % actual dialogue. I know inner monologues are necessary but I am never a fan of reading a whole book set in someone's mind. I prefer reading how the characters interact with the world around them.

I did find her note at the end fascinating. Never did I realize how prevalent the witch burnings were around Europe. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, I rated it a 2.5.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC
Two sisters , who are also witches dealing with trauma after fleeing their village when their mother was burned to death
Later on, Kaija decides that she wants to return to the village and live normal life against the wishes of her sister Minna. So Minna curses the village.

This one was a little slow for me. I enjoyed the dual narrative aspect though. I tend to really love witchy books but this one just didn't hit the spot for me. I couldn't connect with the characters as much as I'd normally like and found myself reading it just to finish.

If you love earthy witch magic, sisterly bonds, feminine rage, and character that are torn on which kind of life they wish to lead, this book is for you. This take on witches and more earth, based magic gave me Salem Witch hunt type vibes as the sisters had to hide their magic from others in order to stay alive. The Witches at the End of the World is filled with poetic, atmospheric writing as we follow two sisters who followed two different paths after the loss of the two magic-wielding matriarchal figures in their lives. While reading this, I felt myself wondering what I would do in each sister’s shoes, which path would I take? Is there a right or wrong way to live when it comes to happiness when happiness is not a guarantee? What would I do for a beloved family member? These questions, and many more, fueled my reading journey. I giggled, I gasped, I even cried a little! If you love a more historical, familial vibe with your magic reading, The Witches at the End of the World is 100% for you. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC opportunity, I loved this book!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 of the World by Chelsea Iverson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre/tropes: magical realism, historical fiction, superstition

Two sisters, Minna and Kaija, grow up deep in the woods with their grandmother after their mother is burned at the stake for being a witch. Mormor has raised them to protect themselves and hone their magic. Kaija, though is tired of the isolation, and longs to return to the village. Whereas Minna has nothing but contempt for the villagers who persecuted their mother. After their grandmother’s passing, Kaija leaves their hut to return to village life, leaving her younger sister to stay, and continue living freely as a witch. This choice has severe consequences.

Most of the story takes place in their heads so you get a sense of the isolation they’ve endured. You see their perspectives, and how their mother’s death affected them differently. While I appreciated the insight into their minds, I was also anxious to move beyond their isolation. It’s about halfway through the book when things get going thanks to strange occurrences, a disease outbreak, and religious and superstitious villagers accusing the devil of working through witches. Immediately you know where this is going. History could be repeating itself. Kaija’s not safe, and Minna has to face repercussions.

This is a well told story, and a good choice if you’re looking for a seasonal read with a historical bent to it. Set in Norway, Iverson shows life at a crossroads of abandoning the old ways for the new Christian god, and how it displaced and endangered the practitioners of the ancient gods and medicine. I got caught up in it, and the ending was not how I expected it to go. As I said, a good pick for spooky season.

Thanks to @bookmarked for my ARC in exchange for an honest

I found this book a little slow to start, and the storyline was somewhat hard to understand at the beginning. But it is a good story about two sisters and the ups and downs of their relationship as witches. Overall, it was good but just not for me.

I wish the book had more dialogue and had a quicker pace. I felt no connection to the story or characters. The cover and description caught my attention but the story couldn’t keep it.

This book moved slow but I really enjoyed it! I loved how different Minna and Kaija were. I really enjoyed the historical timeline and being set in Norway. It gave it such a magical feel. And they seemed like real people not your usually "fantastical" witches. This book could have had more detail in it, but then it would have been extremely long. I wanted more descriptions and more interactions with Kaija and the village and Minna and Olen. It was still a great read.

The summer(?) of witches continues with The Witches at the End of the World, by Chelsea Iversen. From contemporary romance we travel to historical fiction with this small tale of sisterhood nestled in the woods of Norway centuries ago. I’m impressed with how Iversen won me over despite my qualms about the book’s pacing and plot! I received an eARC from NetGalley and publisher Sourcebooks in exchange for my review.

Kaija and Minna are witches. For most of their lives, they have lived in seclusion in the birchwoods with their adoptive mother, who spirited them away from the village of their birth after their mother was burned at the stake for witchcraft. Now grown, their adoptive mother dead, Kaija and Minna are at a crossroads. Kaija is determined to return to the village and establish an “ordinary” life for herself. Minna, far darker of temperament, sees no need to suppress her magic or fit in with ordinary people. The sisters part ways, each trying to find success at the life they want to lead. Of course, it can’t be that simple….

I was intrigued by the promise of sister drama. Minna’s bitterness towards the world as a result of her and her mother’s persecution is a dark seed that she willingly nurtures. When Kaija abandons her—as she sees it—she is rightly furious. As Kaija works to establish a new life for herself, Minna seeks her out and plots something that is, if not revenge, then revenge-adjacent. The tragedy of Minna’s descent into antagonist and eventual blackhearted villain was so tantalizing for me. However, lest I misrepresent the book and at risk of spoilers—it is not quite meant to be.

Now, the book is still about the bond of sisterhood. That much remains intact, and it’s this theme that kept me going. Watching Minna pull herself back from the brink of darkness proves compelling even as Kaija must grapple with her own setbacks. I admit that Iversen likely made the right call by ensuring that the worst of Kaija’s misfortunes are not directly wrought by Minna. Not only does it offer a pathway to redemption for Minna in the eyes of Kaija and the reader alike, but it’s a potent reminder that often our worst moments in life are not anyone’s fault. Circumstances just suck sometimes.

I liked this book. I also struggled with this book. It’s just slow. It’s a lot of narration from each sister, and it takes forever to get going. Yet at the same time, it feels like we never get to know anyone other than Kaija and Minna. They hold every other character at arm’s length in their narration. Fifteen years in and I still don’t have a great term to describe how I feel about this style of writing. The closest I can get is that I can’t connect with the characters. It’s possibly related to my inability to visualize as I read: authors who rely primarily on descriptive language tend to fall flatter for me than authors who use more dialogue and action.

So, as is usually the case, your mileage may vary. This is a sweet story of sisterhood and dreams denied. It’s a tragedy wrapped around family ties, and it’s an interesting exploration of the ways in which internalized misogyny can fuck you up. But it’s a little slow, and it never quite lives up to the promises I feel like it establishes at the start of the story.

As a lover of all things Norwegian, the premise of witch sisters in Norway in the 17th century seeking revenge for the death of their mother seemed like an obvious must read.

The Witches at the End of the World is told through two separate points of view - Minna and her sister Kaija. Although Kaija had a bit more personality than her sister, both seemed almost interchangeable at times and I had to frequently check to see whose chapter I was reading later on in the story. Both sister's points of view were written in a blocky, stream of consciousness style with little to no dialogue which for me, was very hard on my eyes and I often found myself having to go back and reread paragraphs because my mind would wander.

As far as the plot, the novel had a few exciting moments near the end, but I felt like those were rushed through. Overall, the storyline was fairly predictable and forgettable.

For those who love witch/sister stories, however, I do think the majority of readers will enjoy this one. There are not too many historical novels that take place in that time period of Norway, so unless you grew up in a Scandinavian household, I think the atmosphere and the historical information will be unique and interesting enough to keep one's attention. I did crave my grandmother's homemade lefse while reading it!

Thank you to Netgalley, Sourcebooks, and Chelsea Iversen for an advanced readers copy in exchage for an honest review.

3.75 I really like the writing style in this book. It’s beautiful and expressive, floral almost at times. I liked the opposing dual povs of the sisters. Both responding to their trauma in opposite ways.


Thank you Netgalley for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Witches at the End of the World is about two sisters with magic who want very different things in life. So when Kaija leaves, Minna does the unthinkable, unleashing something that will effect both of them deeply. But they don't know it.
There was a real dichotomy established between the two sisters from the onset; Kaija with her natural magic and focus on healing, and Minna with her much wilder and chaotic energy. The two have a strong connection, but both are so different, I wondered how their relationship would play out.

I felt the author really caught the relationship of two sisters well, giving them each a voice but ensuring they were very different and told their own stories.

When Kaija resolves to leave magic behind and travel back into the village that brought their family so much pain many years ago, the story kicks into gear. Minna is left at home, to hunt and survive, whilst Kaija yearns for a much calmer, more normal life.

The description of the Nordic village, along with its traditions, such as the mangelene used for marriage proposals, are so absorbing and vivid. The normality of the village contrasts with the wild life Minna is living in the woods, and I found myself rooting for Kaija and being swept up in village life.

The characters are diverse and well -rounded, with some extremely likeable ones like Olen, who I instantly was rooting for. The theme of good and wicked continues amongst the people in the story: from characters with no magic, such as Astrid the village scold and the shallow, jealous ones who let dark superstitions take hold.

There were moments of visceral darkness in this book that made me gasp, moments where I raged at the narrators, and moments where there was hope, friendship and light.

Whilst I tend to prefer true and real historical fiction, I do like historical fantasies that are well-crafted and where magic is woven as a thread throughout. This book certainly achieved that in a realistic way. And of course, as we all know, magic has to have consequences, which this book certainly demonstrated.

It's the first book I've read in a while that's left me fizzing and I would absolutely recommend this one. It's going on my list (that needs to be created) of top reads of 2023.

This was such an interesting story with really great characters. I liked that we got to see how they both use magic and what they choose to do with it.

Norway, 1667. Women, sisters, witches, and curses. Thirteen years ago, Kaija and Minna were forced to flee their home when their mother was burned as a witch. They’ve lived quietly in the birchwood learning magic with their last living relative, but after their grandmother’s death, Kaija decides to return to their old community. Enraged at her sister’s decision, Minna casts a curse upon the village. She doesn’t expect it to affect her sister until she has a vision: Kaija on a pyre crying for help. Now Minna must follow her sister into a realm of men and suspicion.

Unfortunately, the plot and characters feel underdeveloped. It’s hard to have empathy for the sisters as their personalities are opposing extremes, one full of rage and one submissive in hopes of fitting in. Both sisters are going through the motions of daily life, and there isn’t a lot of plot. Minna is constantly berating Kaija for leaving, while Kaija tries to hide her witch powers and follow the rules of Norwegian society. The two simply don’t communicate or try to understand the other’s reasonings. Instead, they react intensely to assumed slights and betrayals. They’ve grown up together and learned magic together, so where is that history in the story? Why does Kaija insist on leaving while Minna is so full of rage? As Minna performs spells, it’s never really explained how magic works and what the cost is, other than an itchiness under the skin if it’s not used. Where do the words come from and what are some of their rules? This book is full of potential and a strong historical setting; however, more time spent on character development and world-building is needed. Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society at: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/the-witches-at-the-end-of-the-world/

This was a pretty good read. A first for me from this author.

Two sisters alone after losing their grandmother. One decides to move away to the town that years earlier burned their mother as a witch. These two girls are witches and have fairly powerful magic. You follow each one’s story throughout and learn a bit about each sister. At first I thought it was the youngest sister who moved away but I was wrong. Needless to say they didn’t see eye to eye on living in the town.

This book was written so beautifully. Told in a way that makes you feel what each sister is feeling. Told from each ones POV. It’s a very enjoyable read. This author has a gift without a doubt. I enjoyed this one from start to finish.

Thank you #netgalley, #ChelseaIversen, #SourceBooksLandmark for this arc. This is my true thoughts about this book.

4/5 stars and I highly recommended it.

This was a very entertaining historical read with a nordic setting, with pretty good conflict but i also feel like a expected more ??
I don’t know but i had a lot of fun reading this
Thanks net galley for the arc 🩷